Thrifty and Thriving

October is upon us, and yes, I have a coupon for that too.  In the spirit of National Breast Cancer Awareness month I would like to take a minute or two of your time to tell you about the sincere, and ever-present disease, and tell you how Marra’s can help!

Most of us have known someone that has been affected by the number two killer of Women in the US. With approximately 1 in 9 women personally encountering it sometime in their lives – it is important to know what it is that we can do to help.

Well in the spirit of the month – I want to relay to you one place that can help in your after your surgeries and throughout  your recovery. Marra’s Pharmacy in Cohoes has everything from Amoena swimwear (with a coupon for 50% off here) and all other types of products to make every outfit look just as good as it did before your surgery.

Don’t forget too that on Sunday, October 17th there is a “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk in Washington Park – and Marra’s encourages you to sign up here to help the cause!

So please, do your part and support your family, friends, and local community in fighting this disease. But don’t forget to pick up your great personally fitted Amoena products from Marra’s – and here’s to you Survivors!

Does your kid destroy backpacks? As in, carries everything and a hamster around and by the end of the school year its barely able to hold a folder? Yeah, thought so. I used to do that too. But wait! There’s hope! There are a lot of places you can get inexpensive backpacks for your kids, and not feel bad that they are ruined by the end of the year. Here are a few places to check out:

Target has backpacks on sale! You can get a nice backpack for your little dudes and gals for under $10. Check it out here.

Staples has 25% off Jansport Backpacks here. (The coupon is really tiny at the bottom of the ad)

School-Bags.com has a bunch of bags under $20 here.

eBags.com has 20% off site-wide on backpacks here.

And finally, don’t forget to check out Amazon and eBay for inexpensive bags.

Happy hunting!

Even though I’m not a student anymore, I still get really excited about back to school shopping. When I was a kid, it was the one time of year that I got a ton of new supplies that I could organize, decorate and shove into my backpack. It was awesome. These days, I still get a little thrill every time I have to buy a new folder or binder or pens. It takes me back to when Mom, Brother and I would head out to the Oscars Drug store and get to check all the items off our classroom lists. My mom was the original Super Saver and when it came to school supplies she was a master of savings.

Here’s some tips I learned from her over the years and that you can use for your back to school shopping:

- Buy the plain colored folders instead of the one with cartoon characters. Those cartoons won’t be cool in a few months anyways. Plus, if you get the plain ones, then there is more room for creativity and you can encourage your kids to decorate their own folders.

- Re-use colored pencils. I know they look dingy and boring, but a quick coat of paint and sharpening them makes them good as new.

- Do you have a ton of crayons? Melt them down and turn them into fun shapes! It is a little more work, but it means your kids will have the coolest crayons in the classroom

- Same as the folders, get the plain binders with the plastic covering. Then your kids can change out what they want their binder to look like throughout the year. Plus, if they don’t destroy them, then you can use them again next year!

- Instead of buying the top brand Elmer’s Glue, get the generic brand. It will hold macaroni on paper and keep a couple extra bucks in your wallet.

- Finally, buy in bulk! You know every year you will need paper, so why not buy a lot of it?

What do you do to cut back on school supplies costs? Any helpful tips?

From Yahoo Hot Jobs:

The recession has been kinder to many college graduates, as new data from online salary database PayScale.com shows. For people with degrees, some cities have shown median wage growth of up to 15 percent since 2007.
Across the nation, wages for college grads rose an average of 3 percent in the past three years, PayScale found.

Read the full story here.

The best market for salary growth was Honolulu, Hawaii ($55,800, +15%). Looks like I’m moving to Hawaii. (just kidding, I heart Albany) The number one worst city for growth? Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I dunno about you, but I’m not moving there any time soon.

Would you be willing to move if it meant a pay increase?

Good Housekeeping has just come out with their list of the best toys of 2009. Check out the video below.

For a complete list, click here. Are any of these toys on your list this year?

Walgreens: $10 off $40 purchase online with code VITAMIN. Now through Nov 11(Wed)

Express: $30 off $90 purchase, or $20 off $60, or $10 off $30. Online promo code 4343, or use this coupon. Valid through Nov 11th

Bath and Body Works 20% Off Your Entire Online Order with code TWENTYOFF. Valid now through 11:59 p.m. EST on November 10, 2009.

Sorry for the late heads up on these!

Baker’s shoes offers 20% off for B-card holders on any ankle or flat boot. Online and in stores, it’s a one day promo, only valid today, November 10th.

Kohl’s 20% off if you spend $100 with code NOV20EST, or 15% off when you spend under $100 with code NOV15EST. Offer only valid today 11am – 4pm and it’s only for kohls.com

VT Teddy Bears are hand made in VT and guaranteed for life. They have bears for all occasions.

HOW TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE BOX OF CHOCOLATES:

• Go to the Chocolates Offer Page and add the product to your shopping cart
• Continue shopping to select your Bear and place your order by 11/18/09
• Use code VTBGWP119 at checkout

This week’s Barnes & Noble discount e-mail includes a free eReader for mobile devices, and up to six free books. Of course, the store requires you have an online account with them and sign in to it for the deal. The deal is also available on the store’s Web site.

But, with books like “Pride and Prejudice” and “Little Women” offered for free, it seems worth the cost of your personal demographic and tastes data.

The offer seems like a good deal for a decent way to kill time while waiting at the airport, train station, doctor’s office, etc.

Just remember, Barnes & Noble is hoping that you’ll flip at least $9.99 when the next big release comes out.