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2010: 32 Wonderful Changes to Make in your Life

Hey everyone! After a wonderful holiday with my family, it's time to get back to business. The Marsh and Kroger deals will be up later today, along with some other great deals...

However, first things first... my first transfer to Wordpress failed, because the site was too new, but today it's going though, so the site may go down temporarily. Once it comes back up, all the posts will be gone until I can get them uploaded. On top of that, we'll be "in construction", so please bare with me as I reorganize to get the site looking wonderful and easier to navigate. It may be a little messed up for a little while things move around and change. The end result will be a much better site though!

Now, on to some food for thought...

With the New Year finally here I have a list of 32 things everyone should try to stick to in 2010 to make yourself healthier and happier.

Health:
1.. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8.. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Enjoy 2010!

Happy New Year & Anniversary

Today is a BIG day! Not only is it the very first day of the year and my birthday, but it's also the 1st anniversary of IN Good 'Cents'. Exactly 1 year ago today I posted the very first IN Good 'Cents' post and launched my "career" as a blogger. It's been a very educational experience.

I'd like to thank all of you who have been following this blog and all of the fans, especially those who have been with me since the very beginning, while I stumbled through all my "beginner blogger" mistakes!

I can't wait to see what this new year will bring! Please e-mail me if there are any specific things you'd like to see. I always love hearing from readers!

Happy New Year Everyone!

On the Horizon: 2010

With the days flying by quickly and Christmas getting closer and closer, it's hard to think about much else. However, I have to starting thinking past Christmas.

Typically New Years Day just means my birthday, but this year it means something entirely different. Many of you may not realize this, but January 2nd, In Good Cents will officially be 1 year old!

This adventure wasn't at all what I expected. I started In Good Cents to teach my friends and family members how to save money on things they needed, so they could cut their own budgets just like I had done with my own. The "IN" in In Good Cents stood for Indiana, because all the stores and deals I covered were Indiana deals. But, I watched as the tiny map of my readers grew and expanded, reaching as far as Alaska and even into other countries. This, I didn't expect.

Another thing that surprised me immensely was how I felt about deal blogging. I knew I liked finding great deals and I loved helping others get great deals too, but I didn't realize how much I would absolutely love running my own site and connecting with my readers. Every time someone e-mailed me or left a comment saying how much they appreciated what I did or just making a comment, it would make me feel so wonderful.

2009 was a time of ups and downs for me from my crazy pregnancy (my son separated my pelvic bone and totally messed with my taste buds!) to a struggling newborn (who screamed in pain until just recently the doctors discovered he was suffering from a milk protein allergy that included my own milk!). It was also a huge learning experience for me. I've not only found out more than I ever thought I could about blogging, but I also have had readers share with me their savings tips, recipes, and so much more. Basically, while I was working to teach you, you were also teaching me.

With a new year, comes change. I've been sitting down and thinking about what exactly I want In Good Cents to become (of course, I still want In Good Cents to be a great place to find amazing deals and help you cut your budget). However, with a new vision in mind, I've created a few goals for myself and In Good Cents for the 2010 year.

1. Bit a bit less formal and more "me" to share a bit of myself with my readers
2. Build a community with my readers and other bloggers
3. Take the website to the next level, making it easier to navigate, plus adding all the wonderful business jargon that sites need these days
4. Grow, grow, and grow
5. Balance all of this with my wonderful family, because family is always first

You may have already noticed a few of these changes slowly happening now. I've partnered with Brandie from Free Sample Freak to provide you with more freebies and Clair from Mummy Deals to get you a full list of Walgreen's deals. On top of that, I've partnered with Rene at Budget Saving Mom to add on all of those wonderful Rite Aid Deals, which just aren't available in my area (unfortunately). Plus, I'm working with Briana of Bargain Briana to get you a highlight of the best KMart deals and I'm hunting down a partner for Walmart deals. Which, not only helps me spend more time with my family, but is also helping with my goal to grow and build a community.

On top of that, over the next few weeks, you'll notice other changes taking place. Some may be behind the scenes, while others, like the fact that many of my old "how to" posts are being adjusted to make them easier to read, understand, and navigate. And of course, you'll notice all the legal jargon popping up like the Disclosure Policy that recently appeared.

I also have plans to pay it forward and share with you all I've learned about blogging, since so many of you have asked. On top of that, next year I plan to roll out e-classes on saving money that is similar to the classes I teach in town, so that readers in other states and countries can gain the same knowledge as those close by.

Hopefully the end result will be a much better In Good Cents that will help you learn to cut your budget even more.

Have an idea of something you'd like to see on In Good Cents or something you believe will make it better? Now is the time to share and I'd love to hear all of your thoughts, requests, wishes, and more! Including the things you don't want to change. Just leave a comment or contact me.

Plus, watch for announcements as changes get made! Hopefully nothing will go too wonky in the process.

Here we go... (Possible Down Time)

**We may be experiencing some down time in the next 4-6 days**

I mentioned changes early today and most of them shouldn't bother you or may not even notice. However, a big one is happening soon. As in soon, I mean within the next 4-6 days.

In Good Cents is on the move. The site is currently hosted on Blogger, but will be making the move to a private hosting company at http://www.godaddy.com/. During this process, it's possible that In Good Cents will go down temporarily. If you stop by and everything is gone, don't panic. I'll be doing enough panicking for all of us until I see the transfer is complete and all is well.

If it happens, we'll be back up and running before you know it (fingers crossed) and ready to start growing!

2010 Savings Soiree Classes!

Did you realize the order you hand your coupons to the cashier actually makes a difference in your final out of pocket total cost?

The January-July 2010 Fishers' Parks Department Fun Guide will be arriving in mailboxes soon. In it you'll find one new addition from In Good Cents - Savings Soiree! You may have already noticed the new registration addition to my sidebar.

So many of you have been asking about classes available to the public and I'm happy to say they will finally be coming in 2010. Unfortunately, not until March though. However, it might just be the perfect Christmas gift for the frugal shopper on your list, so I've opened registration early!

Join my mom, Susan, and I as we share with you are best frugal shopping tips and secrets in this interactive class with games and prizes.

Registration is Already Open for 2010 Classes!

Location

Roy G. Holland Memorial Park Building (map)

1 Park Drive

Fishers, Indiana 46038

Dates & Times
March 27th, May 23rd, or July 17th, 2010
9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Course Description & Cost

Check out the course description, get more details, learn why you need a crash course on saving money, get the cost, and find out what people are saying about Savings Soirees HERE.

Or to schedule a private Savings Soiree for your business, home owner's association, mom's group, club, or other group please e-mail me.

Up & Down & Up & Down Again

I know this blog has been up and down, then up and down again. It's because my life has been up and down, then up and down again.

See this cute little man here (big sister is holding his hand)? He's my 3 month old son (almost 4 months) and I do think he's the cutest thing ever, but I'm bias. Unfortunately, he didn't come with instructions and while I'm a 3rd time mom, he's been my biggest challenge.

He was born with some digestive issues which cause him to scream in pain sometimes for days. Just when I think things are going really well, we seem to start all over again.

The doctors and I have been going through trial and error to figure out exactly what's bothering his little tummy and so far, they've discovered high-grade reflux. On top of that, we're now guessing he has a pretty severe allergy to cow's milk protein, as well as soy. Stack that with the worry of delayed gastric emptying and you have a little boy who is having some pretty bad days with lots of tummy troubles. We're making some changes now and are starting to see some pretty big smiles, so we're hoping we're finally on the right track and he'll be a cheery newborn soon!

The point is, I wanted you to know that each time I suddenly disappear, it's not because I have forgotten all of my wonderful readers. It's because I'm taking some time to cuddle my son who needs his mommy and usually only I can console him, though my husband and oldest daughter do try very hard to help.

So many of you who know me have sent me prayers and I thank you so much for that, plus thank you all for being so understanding! It's always hard so watch your newborn suffer, especially, when everything you do just doesn't seem to comfort him.

A Time for Family (And A Thanksgiving Tip)

I know. It's late Sunday evening and there is still no sign of Target deals or Meijer deals... and what happened to The Coupon Stash?

Each Sunday, I feel myself rushing around, trying get to church, find time to check out the circulars, figure out the best deals, and balancing all that with my amazingly understanding family. With my husband home on Sundays and my girls eager to do stuff as a family, I decided to take Sundays "off" in a way. While I'll still be hopping on to share some great quick deals, I'm going to hold off until Monday to post the Target and Meijer deals.

As for The Coupon Stash, you'll see that replaced with a weekly Wednesday coupon preview! This small change will give me a chance to concentrate on church and family on Sunday without worrying about finding time to sit down and figure out deals.

While I have your ears (or eyes), I thought I'd let you in on a little Thanksgiving secret. Prices on the most popular Thanksgiving feast items drop to rock bottom prices typically 1-2 weeks before Thanksgiving. It is a gamble trying to figure out when to buy, because something better might come along, but now is the time to keep your eyes peeled for some great prices on the items you've been searching for!

So, now I'm off to cuddle up on the couch with my husband to watch a movie after we tuck all three kiddos in for the night. And hopefully, they'll stay that way until morning (fingers crossed!).

Udder Covers: Scam or Not?

So, about a year ago when I found out I was pregnant with my 3rd child, I saw an offer for a free Udder Cover and since I didn't have the skills to make my own, I jumped on the deal. Only paying shipping, it was cheaper than the nursing covers I'd seen in the stores and much cuter than throwing a blanket over yourself.

About a month ago, another offer came up and again, I got another. And then yesterday, a friend informed me they were again offering a free coupon code. This code came from a name I trusted, What to Expect, since the book helped me through my first pregnancy. This time, I didn't buy one, but I did let all of you know. Then, I got a message from a trusted reader saying, although she'd not has problems, she'd heard it was a scam.

The last thing I want to do is lose the trust of my readers, so I did some investigating. At first, I found many people talking about it, but no one who had actually had a problem. Then, I found an article and a link to a forum on Baby Center where many women were discussing that they had charges to their cards after ordering from Udder Covers back in May 2009. These women did, in fact, receive their cover. From what I'm seeing, it's not clear if the Udder Covers site was hacked and isn't as secure as it should be, or if this is a fraud.

Udder Covers is registered with the BBB with an A and the only complaints are regarding delivery delay issues and all were resolved. In addition, they are now offering Pay Pal payments, which are more secure than using credit cards, and appear to be insured up to $250,000. On top of that, while you can find many search topics for "Under Cover scam", you don't find anything negative on their parent company "Milk Bands", which has been around since 2005.

For all intents and purposes this appears to be a legitimate company, but then why did so many people have issues? Honestly, I'm confused and I'm seeing two very different stories here... many like mine, that received theirs with no problem, then a limited few who had fraudulent charges. Since I got my Udder Cover and know many of my friends did as well, my recommendation would be to order though PayPal to protect yourself and your account information.

Did anyone have a problem with fraudulent charges? Did you get your Udder Cover? What are your thoughts?

You can find more information/articles on this at Frugalista, What to Expect, and RipOff Report.

Announcement: Centsible Cooking

Are you wondering what happened this week to Meal Plan Monday? It isn't gone. It just relocating. Since so many of you enjoy cooking with me and sharing my recipes, I'm going to start a new adventure.

To be honest, I'm still a novice cook, but I'm learning and eager to start expanding my skills. You'll now be able to follow me at Centsible Cooking where I will share my meal plans, favorite money saving meals, grocery shopping adventures, cooking and food tips, and more!

Coming soon... delicous, easy recipes for your Thanksgiving left-overs!

Centsible Cooking is slowly rolling out, but you can be the very first to get the in on the action by subscribing below! And, stay tuned for more news.

Pardon the Construction: Moving in Process

You may notice a few issues with the search option and links. I'm currently making the move from http://www.ingoodcents.blogspot.com/ to http://www.ingoodcents.com/! Please pardon the construction while this change takes place. It may take up to 3 days for the process to be complete. I apologize for the trouble.

IN Good 'Cents': Facebook

Are you a fan of IN Good 'Cents' on Facebook? Facebook Fans got a early chance for 1 extra entry into the Nature Valley Nut Cluster Gift Set Giveaway! Plus, there will be another fun giveaway in the near future and another chance for Facebook Fans to get a bonus entry!

That's not the only reason to join Facebook though. Not only are IN Good 'Cents' posts automatically posted on fan's homepages throughout the day, but many companies also offer high-value coupons and freebies to their fans!

Announcement

I know you are all eagerly awaiting Baesler, Meijer, Target, and Walgreen's deals. Unfortunately, life is taking precedence right now. My newborn has had some digestive issues since birth and today we are heading to the hospital unexpectedly for overnight observation to find the exact treatment he needs, so he won't be so uncomfortable.

I'll be back as soon as possible with the best deals!

Become a Facebook Fan

In attempt to stop bombarded my poor Facebook friends and family with a massive amount of posts though my personal Facebook page, I created a Fan Page for IN Good 'Cents'! Help spread the word and become a fan of IN Good 'Cents' on Facebook. Plus, get deals and updates straight to your Facebook homepage.

Want more ways to follow IN Good 'Cents' to stay on top of the latest deals?

Follow the Networked Blog on Facebook

OR

Follow IN Good 'Cents' on Twitter!

While you're at it, if you love IN Good 'Cents', place your vote now for it to win The DivineCaroline Love This Blog Award. You can also nominate and/or vote for your other favorite blogs! You have until 12/04/09 to vote!

We Interrupt This Blog to Welcome Our Newest Family Member

To keep all my readers informed, this post will be at the top until I return home to regular posting. If you've already read it, please scroll down to see the most recent deals!

While I love deal hunting and hate to be missing out on all the wonderful bargains today, my family and I have something much more important to do. Please wait patiently for all the "can't-miss" deals, while we welcome our newest family member today.

The following posts will be delayed until I return, due to the fact that I was unable to get the information to do them early for you...

Meijer Deals, 7/26-8/1
Baesler's Market Deals, 7/27-8/2
Giveaway: Yoplait Yogurt Thick & Creamy Stationary Set Winner
Preview: CVS Weekly Deals, 8/2-8/8
CVS Monthly Deals, August

While you're waiting for my return, I have scheduled some fun posts for you, including on on the order you should hand your coupons to the cashier to help get the lowest out-of-pocket total and a post regarding my rock-bottom target prices!

I will be back soon though and updating you all on the best deals!

Know of a time sensitive deal? Add a comment and share!

Coupons Tomorrow!

Even though this is a holiday weekend, you can expect one coupon insert in tomorrow's paper - Proctor & Gamble! Make sure to grab it out before you recycle or toss your paper!

New Feature: Recipes

Are you searching IN Good 'Cents' for a list of delicious recipes? You can always visit "Recipes" under Topics and look through previous posts, but now it's easier! You can find them all in one place! Click the "Recipes" button at the top of every page to get an entire list that is categorized and alphabetized. Plus, get a sneak peak at the remaining freezer recipes that will be releasing soon!

Memorial Day Pause

With family in from as far as Canada, I've taken a blogging break to enjoy the holiday. Watch for the Monday Meal Plan on Tuesday this week and Happy Memorial Day!

Excuse the Construction

In an attempt to consolidate the sidebar of IN Good 'Cents' and make things easier to find for new visitors, you'll notice the website has undergone a bit of construction this week. All the wonderful features are still there, but now this is where you'll find them:

TOP MENU BUTTONS:

You'll notice 8 new buttons at the top of the site for you to contact me, learn more about Savings Soirees, find the latest grocery deals, locate the latest drug store deals, see my favorite printable coupon sites, get tips & hits for getting starting, figure out the couponing lingo, and to get details on All You Magazine. Just click the button to go to a page with more information on the topic that interests you!

CONTACT ME: Visit this button to find out how to contact me including e-mail, Twitter, and Facebook!

SAVINGS SOIREE: Visit this button to get more details on Savings Soirees, the crash course on saving money!

GROCERY STORE DEALS: Visit this button to find the latest grocery store deals for Baesler's Market, Kroger, Marsh, Meijer, and Target. Plus find the store 101 here to get tips and tricks for each particular store.

DRUG STORE DEALS: Visit this button to locate the latest drug store deals for CVS and highlights from Walgreen provided by MommySnacks.net. Plus find the drug store 101 here to get tips and tricks for each particular store.

COUPON SITES: Visit this button to locate recommended printable coupon sites, so you can avoid fraudulent coupons and unnecessary spam.

STARTING OUT: Visit this button to get tips and hints to get you started, including the 101 tips and hints for each individual drug store or grocery store and savings documents.

THE LINGO: Visit this button to decipher the couponing lingo and find out what the abbreviations mean.

ALL YOU MAGAZINE: Visit this button to snag an amazing offer on All You Magazine.

SIDE BAR TOPIC DROP DOWN MENU:

With all the new exciting deals, the topic list (or categories list) was getting out of hand! Now, it's consolidated into a drop down menu. Just click the drop down arrow to find the topic you are searching for.

SIDE BAR POST ARCHIVE LIST:

The Archive List was also getting out of hand. Now it's consolidated by week. If you are looking for a specific post or specific information from a previous week, just click that particular week to go back in time and see previous posts.

Guest Post: Visit Money Saving Mom!

While the author of Money Saving Mom, Crystal, is on "maternity leave", she kindly posted a guest post from me about buying in bulk! Though I know there are items that are cheaper when bought from a warehouse in bulk, for our family, I've found that I can find better deals at the grocery stores and it's just not worth the membership cost. The bottom line - do the math and make sure it truly is a bargain before your buy in bulk! Sometime the smaller package is actually cheaper per unit.

Want to read the post? Check it out HERE. And let me know what you think about buying in bulk? What items can you find cheaper at the warehouse? And is the membership fee worth if for your family?