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I am a Mary Kay consultant also. However, I would like to caution you. You will have trouble getting your business off of the ground unless you go into it with the sample kit (runs about $50) and a decent amount of stock. It is hard to fill orders for product when you have to wait until you have accumulated at least a $200 order at first. You also have to be willing to leave your comfort zone and be a little pushy. My advice would be to go to a meeting with your friend and get to know the ladies there some. Find one whom you feel comfortable with and go on some appointments with her, maybe even several of the ladies. Get a good realistic picture before signing that contract. However, I also know that if you sign and then discover that it is not for you, the company will buy back everything you bought for 90% of what you paid. A pretty good guarantee. Mary Kay is a great company with a lot to offer, including fun. But if you aren't sure, take your time making this decision and don't be pushed!
Mary
editor's note: more comments, both pro and con, about selling Mary Kay
Ask his mother about his favorite childhood activities (like collecting baseball cards, fishing with pals, etc.). Then do a more nostalgic-theme party with items that he played with when he was a child. Just set a few things on the table or tie a bit of fishing line around the object and hang it from the ceiling with a thumbtack.
You could also rummage through the attic boxes for some of his old clothes and tack them to the walls for a "remember when you wore that favorite shirt?" effect. As far as music goes, call your local "oldies" station and ask them what songs were on the top ten list when he was born or when he was ten. Then take him for a trip down memory lane.
Crystal
more suggestions for songs and other memory makers
Just read the article by Emily Lambert on adopting pets. Another source is the rescue group for each breed; nearly all of them have websites that you can find by searching the internet using one of the popular search engines, such as Yahoo. This is a great way to save a dog, especially if you are determined to have a certain breed.
Rita M
When a telemarketer calls, you should ask them to please take you off their call list. I've found that after a short amount of time this cuts down on the number of calls received from any company.
C.
With winter approaching, it's important to seal gaps around your home for maximum efficiency. Don't overdo it though. Too much weather-stripping and insulation can cause unforeseen problems. For example, weather-stripping around an entry door should be done so that the door opens and closes normally. Also, avoid blocking any drain holes in storm doors and windows with weather-stripping. Likewise, adding more insulation requires advance planning. Factors such as ventilation and vapor barriers are important considerations. Insulation stuffed into humid areas of a home with restricted ventilation (such as a crawlspace or basement ) could inadvertently cause damage if used excessively.
Dennis D
I work for a cardiologist so I know all too well the problems faced by patients who are prescribed drugs that they truly cannot afford.
The pharmaceutical companies give physicians limited supplies of brand name drugs. These are used by the physician as a starter dose (for a week or so) to test for efficacy and possible side effects before a prescription is issued. Often extra supplies can be dispensed to needy patients.
Also, most of the brand name drugs are available directly from the pharmaceutical manufacturer at no cost to low income patients (most retirees qualify) upon special request by the physician who fills out the necessary paperwork. The patient will also be asked to verify income in order to qualify. Most physicians will assist the patient in this way only for expensive medicines as the paperwork becomes too much of a burden otherwise. Many of the drug companies will give 90 day supplies with refills to one year without additional paperwork.
Once a drug is available as a generic, the pharmaceutical company discontinues sampling to the physician and will not supply free medicines to indigents.
Here's another tip. Per tablet cost is generally the same regardless of strength. So if the physician will write the Rx for double the strength needed with directions to take one- half tablet, the medication will cost the patient less as only half the quantity of tablets will be needed.
Wanda H
editor's note: more on prescription drug help
Rice is a good choice when wanting to stretch your food dollar. If a five-pound bag costs $2, then one serving (a half cup) of cooked rice costs about 3.5 cents. For a family of five, that's 17.5 cents for a side dish!
We serve rice two or three times a week as a side dish with chili or soup on top. It really helps stretch the food and we love it. Rice is also versatile. You can serve it plain, with butter, with soy sauce, with vegetables mixed in, or with spices like garlic or chili powder added. The possibilities are endless!
Becky H.
I was recently laid off and needed to find a way to cut costs. I tried Suave hair care products. I had been using expensive salon products and paying up to $14 for 24 ounces of shampoo. I was really surprised to find that Suave products did an excellent job. For 15 ounces, the price is generally $1.49. However, they go on sale for as low as 68 cents. This is a huge savings for me. Check it out. They have quite an extensive hair care line.
Jan
There is a way to avoid many of those annoying telemarketer calls. Simply wait for three rings before answering your phone. If you hear silence or a click, rejoice! You have just missed a telemarketer.
Here's why I think this works. Telemarketers place their calls using a computer program. Actually, I believe they are dialing several numbers simultaneously and are only connected when we pick up the phone. However, many of their programs disconnect the call after the third ring to avoid paying for a connection to an answering machine after the fourth ring. When we pick up after the third ring, we miss them but are still able to speak with real people who may be calling us.
I've been doing this for a few months and it works. I still do receive a few telemarketing calls, but these tend to be either business related or local, "lower tech" companies. Where I used to speak with a telemarketer once a day, now it is more like once a week.
Sheila U.
I've been making Christmas and other occasion gift bags for over 20 years. I buy Christmas fabric in the summer when it is on sale then cut the fabric into a variety of sizes. After sewing it up, I use cotton yarn to crotchet a matching string closure. I also cross-stitch names of people and make gift tags out of other fabric or felt. In my family, we only use gift bags and tags among the six families who exchange gifts. I attempt to give gift bags to at least ten new people each year hoping the idea will catch on with others. In a small way, I am trying to help the health of this planet. By the third use of the bag, I have estimated that the fabric is paid for rather than wasting money on paper and ribbon that is usually thrown away. I've become known as the "Bag Lady" among my friends and family.
Sherrie
I have a great party idea that is very inexpensive to host. We host an annual "Pumpkins & Potluck Party" on the Sunday before Halloween usually starting about 4 p.m. Everyone comes with a pumpkin to carve and a potluck dish to share. Friends and their children are invited. Usually the adults don't wear costumes, but the kids do. The kids love it because it is one more chance for them to wear their costume.
We set up folding tables and old doors on saw horses for carving stations in our driveway. I've saved several years of Halloween magazines for unique carving ideas. After carving our pumpkins, we all enjoy a meal that everyone has helped to prepare, which is great for me as the hostess. I usually just supply the main dish and drinks. After dinner, we light all of the jack-o-lanterns and give awards (certificate I made on the computer) out for the most creative design, scariest, etc.
It is a fun event that our friends really look forward to!
Kelly P. of North Hampton, NH
We have always made healthy shakes (generally called smoothies) for our daughter. These compare to the costly ones in a cafe or pre-made mixes on the store shelf. We make our own for less and know exactly what we are feeding to our child! The fast shakes are used for "on the go" breakfast, (instead of high priced, sugary cereal bars) or a nutritious, filling snack. Hey! If you add a little chocolate syrup, candy bar, whipped cream, sprinkles, or cookie crumble on top, you have an instant dessert! We soon discovered the shakes are also perfect for pouring into popsicle holders (almost any discount dollar store sells for $1 to $3. Big discount store may charge $4 for healthy, homemade popsicles! We add a couple of blueberries or banana slices to the middle of the pop as an added treat!
Here's our recipe, but there is plenty of room for variation. The amount of each ingredient is a personal decision, which depends on your desired thickness. Get creative and let your child help!
* Soy or cow's milk
* Plain yogurt
* Protein powder (found in vanilla, strawberry or other flavors)
* Frozen or fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries, bananas, peaches etc.)
Variations for dessert:
* Ovaltine, chocolate, or strawberry syrup
* Favorite candy bar
* Cookie Crumble
* Whipped topping
* Sprinkles
Paige of Longwood, Florida
I enjoyed reading "jump start your morning". I am also one of those people who sometimes has trouble getting the day going. Sometimes it's just a matter of not enough time. I already use some of these ideas.
My husband takes his lunch every day. So right after supper, the dishes go in a pan of hot soapy water to soak while I make my hubby's lunch. I make sandwiches or put together a "leftover" TV dinner. Then, they are put in a flat plastic container. These are stored in the refrigerator overnight.
My son doesn't care what he wears for school. As I fold laundry, I lay out a pair of pants, a shirt, and socks and then fold the whole pile in half together. I then put a pile of these pre-assembled outfits on top of his dresser. In the morning, he just grabs one and he's ready. If he wants to wear a particular shirt or pair of pants, all of the matching pieces are there. Yes, he sometimes changes the items around; but it still saves time in the long run. I also do the same thing for myself with items that I always wear together and hang them on the closet door. If I'm running late, I can just grab an outfit without thinking about it.
Rose
I have a tip for more inexpensive dry cleaning that many people don't know exists. If you live near a state prison, they frequently have vocational training programs, one of which frequently is dry-cleaning and laundry. You can have a shirt, blouse, skirt, or trousers cleaned for 50 cents. Jackets and coats generally cost $1. Large items such as rugs or tablecloths are slightly more expensive, about $2. Scarves and small personal items, such as ties, are 25 cents. Just give the item and your cash to a state employee and have that person purchase the special token and turn in the laundry. It usually takes about three days. I just had some laundry done and I only spent $5 on ten items, which would normally have cost me about $35. Prisoners are supervised by state employees, so extra care is taken with garments. This has been a real bargain for our family. My husband can now wear all the laundered shirts he cares to, without me struggling over the laundry. Whew!
Laura S.
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