Get a winning resume

Back in a previous life I toiled away day after day at a large staffing firm.  My job was almost exclusively to read resumes and filter people out based on education, work experience, etc.  Before anyone was even considered for a job interview, their resume went through me.  When a person is going through hundreds of resumes a day, certain things start to happen.  They don't have time to focus on every detail.  They can't read every word.  I would often look for a few key elements and if I didn't see them, I passed.  I had to get down to business, after all.  I didn't make money unless I passed on viable candidates.  

Having had that experience, I cannot stress to job-seekers enough how important it is to have a great resume.  It's often the first impression people get of you.  If it's sloppy or poorly written, you're setting yourself up for failure.  Now, I know not everyone is a world-class writer.  Not everyone has the tools to put together an out-of-this-world resume.  

If you've been searching for a job for a while without success, I highly suggest you consider looking into having your resume professional written.  In this job market, you should take any edge you can get.  And having your resume "pop" is a huge plus.    

There are a  lot of services and individuals out there who claim to be professional resume writers, but be sure to ask for references and examples of their work before you commit.  You want the best quality possible at the price you can afford.  Don't settle for less than that.  

My recommendation is to start with Lightrunners International.  They'll provide you with a critique of your resume free of charge and have over 20 years of experience at their fingertips, just waiting to turn your resume into a masterpiece.

In addition to the information found on their website, you can check them out on Twitter and Facebook as well.  

Have any of you used a professional resume writing service?  How did it turn it out?   

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Ojolie eCard for Mother's Day

I did a spotlight on Ojolie a while back, and with Mother's Day fast approaching I'd like to tell you about them again!  

I love Ojolie for their unique card designs, and their mother's day e-card selection is no exception.  Their cards range from fun to sentimental, so you'll definitely find something that matches every mom's personality.   

That's one of the reasons I like Ojolie, their eCards can speak to a wide range of people, yet they somehow manage to stay unique.  So much time, thought and love goes into the creation of each card and that dedication to quality and substance definitely shines through.  

Membership to Ojolie is $12 for one year or $18 for two.  And if you're unsatisfied for any reason, you can request a refund within the first 30 days of your membership.  But I don't think you'll want to.  If you like to send cards the way I do, the membership pays for itself time and time again.  Plus, you can feel good that you're supporting a small family business.  I love that!  

Go checkout the cards and let me know what you think.  I think you'll love them!   

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Shine On Project

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Do you ever see someone and just know that their light is already burnt out?  They're just existing now.  I think it's a painful thing to see.  And I wonder, what do people see when they look at me?  I'm not talking about clothes, hair, makeup or what weight I am.  I mean, when they really look at me.  When they look past everything to find my spirit and soul.  I hope they see someone who is full of life and who's happy (most of the time).  I never want to be that person whose light goes out.

So, I'm inviting everyone to join me in what I'm dubbing the "Shine On Project."  I'm going to take a few weeks and really work on figuring out what makes me happy and what makes me "shine."

This week it's all about finding a passion.  Don't we all need something in our lives that gets us motivated?  For some people it's exercise, cooking, writing or dancing.  For others it's their kids, dog or home garden.

The point is, it doesn't matter what your passion is as long as you have one.  And your passion doesn't have to stay the same.  You can change it daily if you want.  Just as long as you wake up with one, that's what matters.

Right now my passion is my blog.  It's my little project.  Even when I'm not writing a post, I'm usually behind the scenes trying to figure out what to do next or how to make things better.  I love being able to share a little bit about myself and what I know with everyone who stops by.  My hope is that the blog will continue to get better. I'm not concerned about being a big-time blogger.  I'm just focused on being the best blogger I can with the resources I have.  That's enough for me.

Now it's your turn!  What's your passion?  If you don't think you have one, this is a great time to work on finding something.  Or, you might have one and not even know it.  Is there something in your life that spurs you out of bed in the morning (willingly!)?  That's probably something you're passionate about!

So that's your task.  Find your passion this week and shine a little brighter.

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What to do when your store doesn't double coupons

I'm lucky enough to live around a few stores that double coupons, making it a lot easier to get great savings.  But I know that's not an option for everyone, and yesterday someone asked what they should do to get the most out of their coupons when none of their stores double.  

The good news is, there are ways to still save big even when your store doesn't double.  

First, try to only use your coupon when the item is on sale.  Obviously, you'll get greater savings that way than if you'd used the coupon on a full-price item.  

Second, stack your manufacturer's coupon with store coupons whenever possible.  Most stores allow stacking, but if you're not sure that they do just swing by or call customer service.  They'll be able to tell you what the policy is.  

Not sure what stacking is?  It's simply using a manufacturer's and store coupon together on the same item.  

Some of my favorite stores to stack coupons at are Walgreens, Target and Meijer.  I usually save 50% or more when I shop at Target because of coupon stacking.  I thought I loved Target before I started couponing, but nothing compares to how my heart swells for that place now!

Getting double coupons is great, but you don't need it to be able get great savings.  Just wait for the good sales to roll around and stack coupons when you can.  

Have more questions about couponing?  Let me know! 

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Heading to the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale!

Tomorrow my friend Jenn and I are giving into our Very Bradley lust and heading to the outlet sale in Ft. Wayne.  We're both pretty excited, to put it mildly.

I'm fully prepared to knock people over, elbow fellow shoppers in the teeth and trip little old ladies so I can get what I want.  

I'm kidding.  

Sort of.  

Someone should probably keep bail money on hand just in case.        

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My Couponing Code of Ethics

Given all the drama surrounding couponing practices lately, and because I've noticed a lot of questionable posts from other bloggers, I've decided to officially state for everyone what standard I hold myself to when it comes to couponing.

1. I never recommend using coupons for items other than what is specifically stated on the coupon.  This practice is considered fraud.  I'm not a fan of fraud.
2. I never list couponing scenarios that you can only take advantage of if you have a binder full of thousands of coupons.  I never use more than two like coupons in one transaction, so I'd never expect you to be able to do it either.  
3. I never post questionable coupons.  Coupons that seem too good to be true probably are, and I'll never put you in the position of unwittingly using a fraudulent coupon.
4. I always admit when I make mistakes.  I'm human, and darn it, mistakes happen.  But I do my best to make sure it doesn't happen often.  If you think any coupon or scenario I've posted seems questionable, tell me.  I won't be mad or stick pins in your voodoo doll.  I want to know if you see a mistake I've made.

I love being a couponer.  I think it's fun to save money and share that knowledge with others.  But I value my good name and morals over any coupon or deal.  No amount of money I save could ever make up for it if I ever let those things get muddied by engaging in or endorsing questionable couponing practices.

If you have specific questions about certain aspects of couponing and what my position is, feel free to ask!  I welcome the discussion.            

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Extreme Couponing unwittingly displays fraudulent activity?

If you tuned into Extreme Couponing last week, you probably remember J’aime Kirlew, the feisty and compulsive self-groomer who saved nearly $1,800 in one massive shopping trip.  

It turns out, there's some pretty compelling evidence to suggest she engaged in blatantly fraudulent activity during her shopping trip.  Chances are, this is how she coupons on a regular basis.

Jill Cataldo lays out much of the evidence, and after reading through everything a few times, I'm inclined to side with those who believe J'aime was most certainly scamming the store she shopped at by using a "strategy" called UPC decoding.  This practice is considered fraud and is illegal.  And even if it wasn't, it's certainly morally questionable and paints couponers in a bad light.  

Let me explain what UPC decoding is.  Each coupon has a UPC and when the cashier scans it, the register tries to match it up with the UPC of the item you purchased that corresponds to the coupon.  But it only looks for part of the UPC, and because manufacturers often use similar UPC's for their products, some coupons will go through even if you haven't purchased what the coupon is for.  So if you know how the game works, you can buy a bunch of low priced items and use high-dollar coupons that.  Not cool, right?  

So why does everyone think J'aime is up to no good here?  It's this screenshot from the show that has left people convinced:

(click for a larger view)

First, her shopping list looks strange.  She has things listed like "L'oreal" and "Oscar Mayer."  That seems pretty vague to me.  When I make a list I might have written down "L'oreal mascara" or "Oscar Mayer hot dogs."  You don't go to the store for "Oscar Mayer."

Second, she has a column for coupon UPC's.  I don't know about you, but I've never once had a need to write down the UPC for any of the coupons I was using.  I mean, I might if I was trying to do some UPC decoding at the store...but I'd never be sleazy enough to do something like that.  

I'm no expert and I know the evidence is only circumstantial, but what it looks like to me we have here is a scam-artist's cheat sheet.  All she needed to know was the brand to buy and what UPC to look for on the product.  It's still hard for me to believe that she'd go on national television and blatantly engage in fraudulent activity, but it really seems like that's what happened.  

There's been a lot of outrage about this and people have been demanding she post her receipt so everyone can see exactly what she purchased.  That would put this whole mess to bed.  We'd all be able to see she bought what she had coupons for and her good name would be cleared.  But she won't.  She's promised statements that have never come and won't post her receipt.  

Now, if she is able to clear this up and show everyone that she was completely innocent of any fraudulent activity, I'll admit how wrong I was.  So I'm waiting like a lot of others for that to happen.  Or for her to at least say something. 

What are your thoughts?  Do you think she did something wrong or is it too soon to tell? 

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The Couponizer Review

I was like a giddy little girl when I came home from shopping on Saturday and saw a package sticking out of the mailbox...it was my Couponizer!

Here's what came in the package: 

• The Couponizer organizer 
• Coupon sorting mat 
• Travel-size scissors 
• Shopping list pad 
• Couponizer Coup Tracker 
• Clear carrying bag 

I was really pleased with how sturdy and well-made The Couponizer is.  It's definitely not indestructible, but I can tell it's going to last a while.  Inside The Couponizer I found pure organization bliss.  There's a convenient section to hold your shopping list pad or you can slip your own list in there if that works out better for you.  There are also sections for coupons you plan to use on your shopping trip and a section to transfer them to as you find the items in the store.  This feature is by far my favorite.  I always felt like I was fumbling with coupons and envelopes at the store.  Not anymore!  I love it.  You also have sections for coupons about to expire as well as a place to put store loyalty and gift card.  

I'm also impressed with the coupon organization section.  There are 20 categories for everything from baby items to vegetables.  As I was organizing some coupons this weekend I realized every single one had a place.  I love not having to think too hard about where to put a coupon!  It also makes finding the coupons later so much easier.  Perhaps the best part about organizing the coupons with The Couponizer is that even the really long or wide ones fit perfectly.  I have never found another coupon organizer that ever had room for the larger coupons.  And I can't forget to mention the coupon sorting mat.  It's an awesome tool.  Each section of the mat corresponds to a section in the organizer, so once you've sorted all your coupons you simply transfer them over.  So easy!  

So far it seems like they didn't forget anything with The Couponizer.  They even have sections for entertainment, restaurants, retail coupons, and rebate forms.  There's also a space to store receipts and to record your savings.  I love that it comes with a carrying case too.  I put The Couponizer, scissors, a calculator, and a pen inside and now I feel completely ready for a shopping trip anytime!  

Overall my impression of The Couponizer is incredibly positive.  I wanted something that was large enough to hold my most frequently used coupons, but not so big I felt like I was lugging a suitcase into the store with me.  For people who are into the big binder type of couponing, The Couponizer might not be for you.  Everyone else though will love it.  I've used a lot of different organizers and tested out more coupon organization methods than I'd like to remember, and The Couponizer takes the cake.  I get what the hype is about and why I was so obsessed with getting one.  They're awesome!

If you think you'd like to test The Couponizer out for yourself you can get $3 off your order until April 13th.  Just enter code HELLOAPRIL at checkout.  

I'd love to hear what your thoughts are on The Couponizer!  Do you love it or is it just another run-of-the-mill organizer? 

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National Groupon Deals

There are a ton of national deals on Groupon.  Here are just a few that I thought were especially good!  

$86 for $171.95 Worth of Printed and Gallery-Wrapped Wall Art from Great Big Canvas

$15 for $30 Worth of Candles and Gifts from The Candleberry Company

$25 for $75 Worth of Wine from Barclay's Wine

$15 for $30 Worth of Spices at the Milford Spice Company

$45 for 3 Pounds of Premium Coffee and Stainless-Steel Scoop from Barnie's Coffee & Tea Company ($102 Value)

$25 for a Two-Month Online Language Course from 

Livemocha ($58 Value). Four Options Available.

Be sure to check the right sidebar if the deal doesn't show up on the main section!

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A few words on buying and selling coupons

Although the focus of this blog isn't strictly coupons, I do have a coupon section that I keep updated with good ones I come across.  And I sure do like to let you know when I'm able to save a bundle at the store because of smart couponing!  I think done right (and in moderation) couponing can be super fun and a great way to save on groceries.  

With all the buzz about TLC's new show, Extreme Couponing, I've been thinking a lot about how I feel regarding the methods "extreme" couponers use.  One such issue that I've done a little digging into is the buying and selling of coupons.  There's a wide array of opinions out there, and a ton of confusion about whether or not it's ok to do.  

You'll notice most coupons have some fine print that prohibits selling the coupon.  This doesn't mean if you sell them you're doing anything illegal, it simply means your coupon is now subject to being voided.  Most coupon clipping services try to get around this by stating that you're not paying for coupons, you're paying for the processing and shipping of the coupon.  

Personally, I would never pay for a coupon.  Not because I have any moral or ethical issues with the practice, but because that's just not the way I coupon.  A deal is not important enough to me to buy coupons.  But I certainly understand why it's appealing to other people and I don't fault them for buying a few coupons here or there to supplement their own stash.  

What I do have a problem with are the people who are purchasing 50 of the same coupon so they can go wipe out an entire section of their grocery store.  I feel like there's a "spirit" of couponing, and that is in direct opposition of it.  I know it's impressive when you watch a show like Extreme Couponing and these people leave the store with 4 cart loads that they paid just a few dollars for, but I think we have to ask ourselves what other costs were involved in them walking away with so much for so little.

For most of us, I don't think the benefit of that much savings outweighs what it costs you in other areas of your life.  

And if you do decide to buy or sell coupons, understand there's a lot of gray area involved.  If manufacturers find out a coupon is being sold, they have the right to pull the plug and tell stores not to honor it.

I just encourage everyone to find a level of couponing that feels right to them.  If couponing makes you stressed, you're not doing it right!  I know, because I've been there.  It took me a couple of months before I figured out couponing shouldn't be a chore, and I modified what I was doing.  Now I just have fun with it!  

Here are just a few of the rules I personally stick to: 

• I don't go out of my way to get coupons.  I only print two coupons from my computer unless it's a "hot" one and I'll print two copies from Ryan's computer as well.  I don't have a problem with that. 
• I typically only use 2 of the same coupon in any one shopping trip.  Sometimes if it's a free item I'll use four, but never more than that because I'd have to go out of my way to find more coupons!
• If couponing starts to feel like a chore, I step away and come back to it later.  I also spread my couponing time throughout the week and probably spend about 2 hours total on it.  That includes prepping for shopping trips, clipping coupons, getting organized, etc. 
• I keep a coupon buddy (My mom!) and we shop and coupon together.  It adds to the fun and we can swap coupons and get excited about how much the other saved.  Plus, together we find more deals and split up the work involved.  I think everyone should get a coupon buddy!

How do you feel about buying and selling coupons?  I don't think there's really a right or wrong opinion out there.  We each just have to find out own comfort level with the different couponing methods out there.

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