Black Friday

Ok, so here it is...the much anticipated blog about how to save a bundle this Friday and get your holiday shopping done! Well, this would be the case if Carson Pirie Scott includes a coupon in their ad like they have in previous years.

First, let me give you some history about myself and this amazing shopping day. When I was 21, and my oldest son was 11 months old, my sister and I got up extra early, and headed out to Kohls to do some Christmas shopping. Talk about a madhouse! We weren't there right when the store opened and being inexperienced Black Friday shoppers we spent more than an hour in line that day. Oh my...did I mention we took my 11 month old with? Thankfully, he was a perfect baby and never cried. In fact, I think he slept most of the day. After Kohls I vaguely remember heading to Walmart so that my sister could get a price adjustment on something she had recently purchased, and I headed to the food court with Adam. I remember having the $1 nachos---I was pregnant at the time with my youngest son. Yup, here I was pregnant carrying around a toddler and not knowing a thing about what I was doing that day! I gave up shopping that day, and vowed to never do it again!

Yeah, right! I did wait a few years though. In fact, it was three years ago that I decided to brave it and go out again. Carsons had the above mentioned coupon in their ad, $10 off an item $10 or more! Well, I have to go! I gathered up my coupon, and a few others (mom's, gram's, etc etc). I made it to Kohls at 4 am, and then headed over to Carsons. I picked out my five items, and spent under $20. I then decided to meet my sister-in-law for breakfast---doh! I should have never stopped shopping--but hindsight is 20/20 right?

The following year, two years ago, I went out shopping alone for the first six hours. This was my first year as a semi-professional Black Friday shopper. I had reviewed the black friday ads online (blackfriday.gottadeal.com), and had purchased a television from Best Buy a few days before Black Friday. Let me make sure everyone got that---I purchased a tv from Best Buy on the Monday BEFORE Black Friday. It was in the ad for Black Friday for only $35, regular $99. Many may ask, why would you go into the store before the tv was on sale? Well, it was so I COULD AVOID STANDING IN LINE ALL DAY ON FRIDAY! Yup, that's right! You can receive a price adjustment on any item you purchase that goes on sale within two weeks (I think)! So, I walked in, walked right up to the customer service counter and received the difference between what I had paid a few days earlier, and what the sale price was that morning! I glanced at the line for the check outs, and it was winding back to the back of the store! Wow! I had just saved hours and lots of $! I then continued on my way, meeting up with my mother (again, a mistake, but live and learn). We shopped until about 9 PM that night. Whew---I totaled up my purchases, and I had saved about $800, while only spending $200! This gave me an idea for next year.

Ok, so last year I decided I was going to be a SERIOUS shopper on Black Friday. I had visted the website, blackfriday.gottadeal.com all fall. I knew the sale ads, and knew what I had to do. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving I went and previewed the sale items at Carsons. I was hoping they would have the $10 off coupon again, and I wanted to be prepared. The coupons states that only one can be used per customer, but they do not stick to that rule. Ok, so I had a list ready, and I was excited!

However, life always seems to never go as planned. While I had been out previewing items, my two sons had been playing real life transformers, and my youngest seemed to have lost. He ran right into the table, and cut himself above his eye. So, we had to spend the evening (and part of the early morning of Thanksgiving) in the ER.

I didn't let this slow me down the next morning though! I was up and ready to go at 6 AM. Let me clarify, that this is now the morning of Thanksgiving, NOT BLACK FRIDAY. The sale ads for Black Friday come out on Thanksgiving. So, I went to every gas station/grocery store/paper stand in a 10 mile radius. I purchased SIXTY newspapers. That meant I had SIXTY $10 coupons! Of course, I purchased one paper first, checked for the coupon, and then continued on purchasing the papers. My car was FULL! But, with sixty coupons I could purchase items on my Christmas list as well as some basic household items for under $1 a piece!

I had arranged for my two sons to spend Thanksgiving night at my mother-in-laws so that I could leave at 3:30 in the morning. And, I did! I was at Kohl's at 4 am, but decided to skip that store. The line was just too long, and I have found that Kohls will have many of the items on sale on Black Friday morning on sale again on Wednesdays or Friday evenings/Saturday mornings. So, there was no need to waste time there. I headed into Carsons with my sixty coupons and began shopping. I purchased dish towels, crystal candy dishes, plates, Kitchen Aid houseware items, Christmas decorations, bath towels, etc. I used all sixty coupons! I totaled up the regular prices with tax, and found that I had over $1000 worth of items! So, how much did I pay? Well, it was $109 with tax! OH MY! What a deal! I had spent 7 hours in the store. While you can use more than one coupon at a time, I only used enough to cover the items I could carry. I would then take them out to the car, and head back into the store.

Also, Carsons put that coupon in their ad on Christmas. It was good for use on the day after Christmas (which happens to be my birthday!). So, if you are able to stop on Christmas and pick up a few newspapers I would highly recommend it!

Another note---while the lines may be excrutiatingly long upstairs or in the main departments, the lines at the Cosmetic counters are not. And, yes, you can take your merchandise there for check-out on Black Friday!

Another tip I have, is to gather the ads for the basic items you find on sale on Black Friday and take them to Wal-Mart, Meijer, etc. and price match. You will find a better stock at those stores and quite possibly a shorter line!

Cingo Vs Google

I was intrigued by the cingo.com website, and thought I would do some searching to see what I could find that was free. As much as I liked cingo, I just couldn't justify paying $4.99 a month, $29.99 a year, or $99.99 for a lifetime! Well, I suppose I could if I couldn't find anything else like it on the market. So, I did some searching, and found that Google offers some of the same features that Cingo offers, but for free. Here is my comparison:

Google---has a calendar you can use and share with friends. And, to my excitement and delight, Google has many of the same features of Cingo's calendar. Google gives the user the option to add tv shows, holidays, events in the area, sports schedules, entertainment items (my favorite is the DisneyLink....what more could a girl want?!?!), and there are also miscellaneous categories the user can choose from.

Ok, so Cingo also offers task and chore managers, shopping lists items, real estate searches, weather, travel info, and free email. The question is now, does Google?

Task/Chore Manager--Yup, it's there!

Shopping Lists--Yup, there are many to choose from to use with iGoogle.

Real Estate Searches--Of Course!

Weather Info--I set up iGoogle, and the weather is displayed. The weather is also displayed on my Calendar I set up.

Travel Info--There is access to many different travel sites that can be added to the iGoogle homepage.

Free Email-----------Yes, Google has Gmail.

Hmm, well, in my experiment I have now found that I can utilize Google for MUCH more than I thought, and I can also tell you the many different events that are going on at any of the Disney Theme Parks. I am in HEAVEN!

Oh, I wanted to add that iGoogle has many gadgets you can add. It is not limited to the categories I have posted above. There are many many many more!

So, do you really care?

After reviewing many discussions, articles, and websites I began to wonder---do we really care about the things our "friends" are posting on MySpace, Facebook, etc? I update my status on both sites whenever I log in. I put, "Jennifer is doing homework," or "Jennifer just got home." I have noticed that others do the same, and add their mood. However, I began to wonder, is this a way for us to use "self-therapy" to get out our feelings, or do those who are reading these posts really care how our day is, or what our mood is at the current moment.

And, why is it that so many of our "friends" want us to take silly surveys and post them for the world to see? I don't really care what you ate for dinner last night, or where you were the first time a boy (girl) kissed you, or even better, where is the craziest place you have made love? Why is it that people feel so comfortable disclosing that information on the internet, but if it came up in a conversation (a face-to-face conversation) no one would feel compelled to share?

I believe that these social networking sites are also a place that people let out their emotions and help themselves to feel better about their day. So, do you think it is rubbish (the posts, not my blog), or a new theraputic method?

Facebook Faceoff...Say What?!?!?!?!

I do not understand how anyone could post statements about another human being that were so filthy! The posts these four girls (and yes, I mean girls) made were obnoxious and not only embarrassing to the instructor of the class, but the girls who posted them should feel embarrassed and shamed for writing them as well.

I completely agree that these girls "threaten[ed] the emotional and mental health” of Collins" (who was the instructor). So she was a boring instructor, so what! Everyone has things that they struggle with. Maybe she could have used a bit more training before taking on the role of instructor, but there isn't any method of teaching that would justify someone stating the vulgar things the girls said.
The one girl said that, "I will have a reprimand on my permanent record for seven years,” she added, “so if a grad school inquires into any interactions with judicial affairs or asks on an application if I had any violations that required punishment, this would apply." GOOD! She should have thought about what would happen when she was logging into Facebook and trying to show off to her friends.

In my opinion, these girls need to take some time (maybe until the record is gone--7 years from now) to grow up and really understand the effects of their actions on other people.

My Computer Usage

I love working with computers. When I'm not at home working on the computer, I connect to the world wide web via my Palm Centro. I love being able to find a map, check the weather, and stay connected to friends and family.

I frequently check my email (too many accounts to count...I use them to sign up for coupons; but that's another blog!) during the day. I also use the computer for budgeting my families finances, staying current on the real estate market, communicating with friends and family, planning my next WDW trip, and working on school projects.

I have wanted to start blogging for about 18 months now. I just haven't had the time to sit down, research a topic, and then blog about it. I know this would greatly enhance my real estate business, and it is definitely on my list of things to do. I have read some celebrity blogs, such as Ross the Intern!

I am also currently working on designing a website for my future Real Estate Brokerage. I am having some troubles designing a page so that my customers and clients can login and track the progress on their deal. So, if anyone out there can help me with that it would be MUCH appreciated!

Stay tuned for the blog on how to shop wise with coupons! I will try to have it out for you before the day after Thanksgiving....last year, on Black Friday, I tallied up the $ amounts for my purchases...Regular prices with tax was about $1100...I spent $109! And that's no joke!

All About Me

My name is Jennifer Lindemer, and I live in Demotte, IN. I have been married for 7 years, and have two wonderful sons. Adam is 6 1/2 and is in the first grade. Brad is 5 and is in kindergarten. My husband, Jeremy, is also taking this class so I will let him tell you all about himself.

I am attending PUC to obtain a double major in finance and marketing. I am hoping to open my own Real Estate Brokerage in the next year, and want to gain as much knowledge about management and business as I can.

Currently, I am a Realtor, and hang my license at McCOLLY Real Estate. I have been in the industry since August 2005, and have seen some really good times and some really awful times. I love the job, and find that there is nothing more rewarding than helping people achieve their dreams and goals. I understand what a big decision it is to buy or sell, and take pride in the way I service my customers and clients. I know that in a way, their entire lives ride on the deal we are working on.

After my titles as wife, mom, student, and Realtor, I am a Disney World fanatic! Just check out my myspace page....www.myspace.com/jlindemer! I have been there four times now, and am currently planning my next trip for June 2009. I love walking into the Magic Kingdom and watching my children's faces light up. I would love to one day have a vacation home in Florida!

Well, that's the basics of Jennifer Lindemer. I am looking forward to discussing topics with everyone!