Finance Discussion Board

Coupons Anyone

turnersmom79 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:09:02 GMT

I love couponing, but don't even try and do the matchups myself. I depend on sites like www.SouthernSavers.com and www.MoneySavingMom.com to help me with that. They're great at matching coupons with current sales to save you even more!

Unemployed friend is lashing out at everyone

vivasuzi — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:42:36 GMT

I got the solution for you. Tell your friend to move to Michigan! She'll meet a lot of unemployed people here and might even feel better about herself for having had a job at some point. Many people have been out of work around here for months or even a year or more!

And flb is right - our problems get put on the backburner while we worry about someone elses. Focus on yourself first. Even the airlines teach us that! Help yourself with your air mask before helping another :) That could be a good metaphor for life!

Unemployed friend is lashing out at everyone

flbeachchic — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:02:00 GMT

I have dealt with people like this and it is just too hard to deal with your life, problems if any..and then to have a friend who complains and is just a downer all the time...I have no time for people like that...

Unemployed friend is lashing out at everyone

vivasuzi — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 04:54:41 GMT

Anna is soooo right. Some people are just always unhappy, whereas I believe in the "you can be happy no matter what" philosophy (and the book of the same name). I've actually recommended that book to some of these type of ppl before, but they never wanted to borrow it. Oh well!

Jovial, when I hear the "it must be nice" I want to jump back with "yes it is nice when you work day in and day out, and only get 2 weeks vacation, and you save up so you can go someplace and take a break before returning to day in and day out stress of work". This particular girl complains about being "so bored" all the time. I just want to scream "go out and get a job then you can afford to do things!"

But I don't say those things, I just ignore the comments and talk to other people that are there instead. Let them be miserable, they don't have to make me miserable too. We gave advice for years, and while some people still try to give them advice, I'm done trying.

Thanks for starting this thread, it's nice to know there are others out there dealing with this too!

Unemployed friend is lashing out at everyone

JovialCougar — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:30:17 GMT

Thanks for the comments. Maybe I should get Caller I.D.

We've gotten the "it must be nice" comments..

I hear this one a lot. Every topic of conversation is turned around and juxtaposed against her difficulties. It gets tiring (very tiring).

Unemployed friend is lashing out at everyone

AnnaBanana — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:29:50 GMT

I guess what it boils down to (IMO) is that everyone has his or her own share of genuine complaints and maybe luck sometimes does make a difference but still it seems like some people are happy and appreciate life, no matter what happens ... and some people are unhappy no matter what.

I think this was a very helpful thread.

Unemployed friend is lashing out at everyone

vivasuzi — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:44:31 GMT

Not that it's always this way, we have had some success in motivating people to turn their life around. I can think of a few people who may have been jealous with what we have (which is funny b/c I don't feel like we have much!), but in seeing the things we have and the way we worked to get there, it did motivate them to work harder for the things they want. We can't take all the credit but it's nice to know we played a part in helping some people live a better life. There's just the few out there that will never seem to change, and after years of trying I give up.

Unemployed friend is lashing out at everyone

vivasuzi — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:40:22 GMT

I have a similar acquaintance, but it's a little different for our acquaintance b/c she's hardly worked at all her entire life and spent most her life mouching off of others. We've gotten the "it must be nice" comments when we talked about vacations and we've gotten blown off whenever we gave any advice. She has every excuse in the book. "No one's hiring" is a common one which makes me laugh because there are jobs hiring, she's just not willing to take them. OR they aren't willing to take her b/c she has no history of work. .

My advice, limit your time with this person, they are isolating themselves and don't deserve you if they won't even listen to you. If they don't want your advice - don't give it anymore. Don't hide your own success and happiness either. You shouldn't have to hold back good news! What I've noticed is sometimes these type of people think you were just "lucky" to get what you have and they don't consider that you worked hard to get there! I make sure people like this know that I work hard, but I don't think it gets through to them most of the time. They don't consider the hours and hours I spend at night writing online just to earn pennies toward our vacations. We were just "lucky".

Sadly, sometimes you have to give up on a person and let them figure it out on their own. I personally have learned in my life not to waste time on people who won't see the good side of anything. Some of these people should get together and write a "book of excuses" because they seem to have a million. Don't get yourself down over someone else's problems! Trust me, all you'll end up doing is depressing yourself if you try to hard to fix her issues.

Unemployed friend is lashing out at everyone

copperdan — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:07:47 GMT

WellI'd like to comment and yes it would seem someone has an anger management problem. I have never been fired and I came to Asheville worked 61/2 yrs the same place got laid off when construction went bad .I have not worked for a year.I got laid off since I was atop paid employee they let 6 of us go to keep the low paid hispanics but I dont blame anyone .I would give up on a person who was so critical as that if they cared so little about how I felt .I cant say any of you would be either.

Unemployed friend is lashing out at everyone

Meri — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:46:57 GMT

I had the same thought as Anna when I read your post. It sounds like a pattern. Unfortunately, if she continues on her rants she may lose all of her friends as well as her job.

Unemployed friend is lashing out at everyone

AnnaBanana — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:40:53 GMT

I'm no psychiatrist but I have to wonder if her personality issues may be part of the reason that she "has been in and out of work" so much. Some people just don't work well with others which is bad news in the workplace where even the most even-tempered have to summon up a lot of patience on a routine basis.

Unemployed friend is lashing out at everyone

JovialCougar — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:29:57 GMT

I was wondering if anyone else has been dealing with this issue. A friend who has been in and out of work several times over the last couple years is unemployed again. It's gotten very hard to try and encourage her because she just wants to rant and rave.

I think she'd be better off working several part-time jobs and at least be busy/active, instead of sitting around all day. But she does not want any advice from anyone. Also, she does not want to hear any good news from anyone else because it makes her jealous. Is it better to keep your distance from someone like this or just keep trying to he helpful?

having credibility

darlyn63 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:46:50 GMT

Very good information to know. I use the BBB when checking out a company, now I know if they aren't listed it doesn't mean they are legit. That is something I learned new today. I just had to look at a company that is working on my car, taking far too long. No complaints about them, but now this is telling me that doesn't mean there hasn't been any problems. Thanks for the info.

having credibility

vivasuzi — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:19:04 GMT

Maybe you should write a review of this place so as to warn others to stay away.

having credibility

aberjulie — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:52:20 GMT

i just recently had dealings with a financial group and did not do my homework. i did not check them out with the bbb to see if they were legit and now because of that i lost a great some of money. so my advice to everyone that wants to deal with these financial groups check them out first. if the better business bereau doesn't have them listed and their credibility listed don't deal with them. a very expensive lesson learned on my part >>> do your homework first before handing money over.

Being Financially Responsible has just become a BAD thing!

shesays — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:46:36 GMT

I haven't had a credit card in over 10 years. Too many problems and hassles. I've been using a debit card and twice I had people try to rip me off, but I just called the bank, they deposited the money back in my account and went after the people who were scamming (at least I think they did -- it wasn't my problem after my account was reimbursed). I'm sure that some banks might balk, but CitiBank and Wells Fargo gave me no trouble about redepositing the funds. I'll stick to debit cards. Plus, as it's just like using cash, there's no way I'll pay fees.

Coupons Anyone

Buggheart — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:57:11 GMT

I'm not a fanatic, but I try to use coupons as often as possible, whether that means clipping them from the newspaper, using the Entertainment book, or using online coupon codes. Even when money wasn't an issue I felt that it doesn't grow on trees so I shouldn't waste it so I use coupons whenever I can. A few weeks back I got those Kroger coupons that were previously mentioned and was thrilled to find several free coupons in the pack. I got mayo, butter, milk, Special K and a few other thngs FREE! Gotta love that.

Coupons Anyone

vivasuzi — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:36:29 GMT

:( No fruit and veggies at our targets. Just fridge food and pantry food. However I do find that target's regular price is usually a lot lower than kroger or meijer. For example, Morningstar (veggie meat) products are routinely 1.50 or more less than kroger.

Coupons Anyone

vivasuzi — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:31:09 GMT

I go back and forth. My problem is a lot of times coupons convince me to buy more than I normally would because I try new things. So in the end I feel like they don't really save me much money because, like you said, there is rarely a coupon for most of the things I usually buy. So outside of trying some new things, I haven't found it worthwhile.

Instead it seems to be more worthwhile to stock up on pantry items / household items whenever they are on sale. Anytime those pasta sides go on sale, I buy a dozen of them and they are always there when I need one :)

When I do clip coupons, I do it at Mypoints so at least I get some points out of it. I tried shortcuts but there was rarely anything I needed on that site plus I always forgot which ones I 'clipped' since they don't give you a physical coupon.

Coupons Anyone

TheBard — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:44:42 GMT

LisaCarey said…

Actually I save money at Target on apples, banana's and strawberries quite often. Their website coupons are printable. Also if you shop at Target you can combine both manufacturer coupons and Target coupons to get the most of the discount. We don't have a Super Target near me, so for me to make the trip it has to be seriously worth it!

Lisa,

Thanks for the 411 of the Target fruit and veggie coupons; I will take a look!

Vincent