Being unemployed can be an extremely stressful time for a person. The uncertainty of the future, dealing with the constant question of when work will come along, wondering how you will pay for your bills.
In the midst of the stress and uncertainty can come some positives.
-Learn new skills. This could mean a number of things. If you have the means to go back to school and learn a trade, finish a degree or catch up on old classes, being in the job search mode is a great time to do this. Not ready to go head first into school, do some book or internet studying on something you are interested in. I have a friend who like to learn a new skill every year…many for personal fun….but regardless he is learning something new constantly.
-Work on projects at home. For you husbands, it is the dreaded “honey do list”. Take advantage of the time off and work on the little, not so little and maybe even the larger projects that you have put off for weeks, months and years. In the midst of job searching, I am trying to knock out at least one home project per week. Sometimes it takes longer or I can get more than one done, but at least you can feel like you are accomplishing something.
-Volunteer your time. This is one of my favorite things to do. There are so many organizations and groups that are looking for volunteer help that YOU could be a huge asset. Not sure what to do or where to start? The United Way, Salvation Army, local rescue missions and food pantries are in constant need of volunteers. Junior Achievement (one of my personal favorites) is always on the look out for professionals willing to spend one hour one day a week with elementary, middle or high school classes teaching them about community and finances. The great thing about Junior Achievement, they provide you with everything you need.
Even if you only have a couple of hours per week, that is more than enough to volunteer in your community.
-Join a Job Seekers group at a local church. Networking isn’t just about BNI, Chamber or business gatherings. The faithful that are job searching network as well. Many churches offer Job Seeker groups that gather weekly or bi-weekly for encouragement, teaching and job sharing.
-Spend special time with your children. If you are a job seeking parent, your life is filled with stress. You need to take time everyday to take a “stress break”. Take a walk with your children, go to the park, head to a lake or a beach, play a game in your backyard, go to the library, go on a scavenger hunt…the opportunities are limitless. Being out of work is time to create “Backyard Moments”…the little things that your children will always remember.
Share some of your ideas on what other job seekers can do to improve themselves.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Have fun this summer with the Milwaukee County Passport Program
Discover the heritage of Milwaukee County this summer with the Milwaukee County Passport Program.
Description: Everyone is welcome to participate! The program runs from Memorial Day Weekend (May 28, 2011) through Labor Day (September 5, 2011). Use the free passport as a guide to discover unique cultural and historic sites within Milwaukee County this summer. Collect your passport at any participating site or on the Milwaukee County Historical Society website. Then visit the different sites and complete a special activity to obtain a stamp in your passport! You can redeem a prize once you visit 50 percent of the sites. Receive a (414) 529-7744. You can visit our public Facebook page here, even if you don’t have a Facebook account:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Milwaukee-County-Passport-Program/202229443140521?sk=info
A link will be provided through Facebook when the passport can be downloaded online! More organizations are agreeing to participate every day! So far, this year’s participants include: Charles Allis Art Museum Villa Terrace Decorative Art Museum Reclaiming Our Heritage Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens Wisconsin Marine Historical Society Milwaukee County Historical Society Trimborn Farm Wisconsin Black Historical Society Jewish Museum Milwaukee Greendale Historical Society Bay View Historical Society Jeremiah Curtin House Lowell Damon House Kilbourntown House Franklin Historical Society Oak Creek Historical Society
Occurs daily: (8:00 AM to 10:00 PM) [starting May 28, 2011 ending Sep 5, 2011]
Description: Everyone is welcome to participate! The program runs from Memorial Day Weekend (May 28, 2011) through Labor Day (September 5, 2011). Use the free passport as a guide to discover unique cultural and historic sites within Milwaukee County this summer. Collect your passport at any participating site or on the Milwaukee County Historical Society website. Then visit the different sites and complete a special activity to obtain a stamp in your passport! You can redeem a prize once you visit 50 percent of the sites. Receive a (414) 529-7744. You can visit our public Facebook page here, even if you don’t have a Facebook account:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Milwaukee-County-Passport-Program/202229443140521?sk=info
A link will be provided through Facebook when the passport can be downloaded online! More organizations are agreeing to participate every day! So far, this year’s participants include: Charles Allis Art Museum Villa Terrace Decorative Art Museum Reclaiming Our Heritage Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens Wisconsin Marine Historical Society Milwaukee County Historical Society Trimborn Farm Wisconsin Black Historical Society Jewish Museum Milwaukee Greendale Historical Society Bay View Historical Society Jeremiah Curtin House Lowell Damon House Kilbourntown House Franklin Historical Society Oak Creek Historical Society
Occurs daily: (8:00 AM to 10:00 PM) [starting May 28, 2011 ending Sep 5, 2011]
Thursday, May 19, 2011
How Can You Maximize Your Savings At The Grocery Store
We’ve covered the “basics” of being an extreme couponer, now it’s time to talk about how you can maximize your savings during your shopping trip.
If you watch the show “Extreme Couponing” you will see the featured people doing a number of different things…but there are a few keys to their success:
1. Research the current sales at your store(s) of choice. This is simple enough to do by taking the time to go through the store flier. Knowing exactly what is on sale is a major part of the battle…plus you can find the “bonus” deals (something for free with purchase, money off with certain purchases, etc)
2. Match coupons with the sales flier. Why use your coupons on full price items when you can let the store help you have even more money. Double coupon days are even better for this, but as I have mentioned before make sure you check into your store’s coupon policy (I ran into two women at the store on Wednesday that were floored by the store’s policy).
3. Have a detailed list of what you are getting…AND STICK TO IT! This was one of the biggest adjustments I had to make. I would have the basic milk, eggs, bread list that I would take with me, then I would just start grabbing other items that looked good. Not Smart. Have a plan and stick to it…impulse buys will kill a grocery budget.
4. Have your coupons organized (with your list) when you venture out. Nothing worse that going to the store and spending half the time digging through a box or envelope searching for a coupon you thought you had for an item. Time spent at home organizing your list and coupons maximizes your time and savings at the store.
5. Be on the lookout for additional coupons. This is a game for me and my children. Watch carefully for the little automatic coupon dispensers near items, packages that have coupons attached…or coupons left behind by other shoppers. It’s gold Jerry…gold! One of my favorite stores for coupon “scavenging” is Woodman’s…where they actually put coupons out for the shoppers!! Even if you don’t purchase the items there…take the coupon and take the savings elsewhere :-)
The key to all of this is being organized. Whether you use a box with alphabetic dividers or the super coupon binder, beings an organized shopper is the best way to make the most of your savings at a store. That with a little bit of research is guaranteed to save you at least 50% if not much more at the grocery store.
Do you have suggestions that I have not mentioned? Please comment on this post and share with everyone. Share them with me on Twitter and Facebook as well.
I am also looking for suggestions on other topics you would like me to discuss.
Thanks and happy shopping!
If you watch the show “Extreme Couponing” you will see the featured people doing a number of different things…but there are a few keys to their success:
1. Research the current sales at your store(s) of choice. This is simple enough to do by taking the time to go through the store flier. Knowing exactly what is on sale is a major part of the battle…plus you can find the “bonus” deals (something for free with purchase, money off with certain purchases, etc)
2. Match coupons with the sales flier. Why use your coupons on full price items when you can let the store help you have even more money. Double coupon days are even better for this, but as I have mentioned before make sure you check into your store’s coupon policy (I ran into two women at the store on Wednesday that were floored by the store’s policy).
3. Have a detailed list of what you are getting…AND STICK TO IT! This was one of the biggest adjustments I had to make. I would have the basic milk, eggs, bread list that I would take with me, then I would just start grabbing other items that looked good. Not Smart. Have a plan and stick to it…impulse buys will kill a grocery budget.
4. Have your coupons organized (with your list) when you venture out. Nothing worse that going to the store and spending half the time digging through a box or envelope searching for a coupon you thought you had for an item. Time spent at home organizing your list and coupons maximizes your time and savings at the store.
5. Be on the lookout for additional coupons. This is a game for me and my children. Watch carefully for the little automatic coupon dispensers near items, packages that have coupons attached…or coupons left behind by other shoppers. It’s gold Jerry…gold! One of my favorite stores for coupon “scavenging” is Woodman’s…where they actually put coupons out for the shoppers!! Even if you don’t purchase the items there…take the coupon and take the savings elsewhere :-)
The key to all of this is being organized. Whether you use a box with alphabetic dividers or the super coupon binder, beings an organized shopper is the best way to make the most of your savings at a store. That with a little bit of research is guaranteed to save you at least 50% if not much more at the grocery store.
Do you have suggestions that I have not mentioned? Please comment on this post and share with everyone. Share them with me on Twitter and Facebook as well.
I am also looking for suggestions on other topics you would like me to discuss.
Thanks and happy shopping!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Saving on your Grocery Bill Part 2…The Coupons
Coupons…the life blood of anyone that wants to save money at the grocery store. As I mentioned in the previous blog, this is the one thing many people feel is a waste of time…but trust me if you do it right it can be worth hundreds of dollars if not more.
Coupons are not just found in the Sunday paper anymore. The internet has made it even easier to track down coupons that can increase your savings.
Websites like Coupons.com provide dozens of printable coupons that can be used on popular items and major brands. Every few weeks these coupons are updated offering new money saving deals.
In addition, many companies are now offering free coupons on their websites, many times as a “reward” for signing up for the product or brand newsletter. Best thing to do is search for your favorite brands websites and see if there is a link for coupons or deals.
Social media has added another opportunity for coupon hunters to get a hold of money saving deals. General Mills offers numerous coupons on special brand pages that you can LIKE on Facebook.
Message boards for couponers have popped up all over the internet, which is great for sharing information on hot deals, new coupon sites, coupon trading and even upcoming sales at some of the larger national stores.
As with anything on the internet, you need to be cautious of what websites you offer too much personal information on. Obviously the corporate websites for brands and stores are safe, but do some research, especially on coupon websites before downloading tool pars, printing programs, etc.
Another thing to watch for with internet coupons, many retailers are beginning to limit or even eliminate the use of internet coupons (must of this is due to “fraudulent” coupons). Always check your local stores coupon policies before heading out.
In the next blog, I will give you my list of ways that you can be a successful couponer and save your family money (even get you some free items in the process)
Please leave your comments or suggestions here. You can also send me messages on Twitter (@JonKurozawa) or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jonkurozawa)
Coupons are not just found in the Sunday paper anymore. The internet has made it even easier to track down coupons that can increase your savings.
Websites like Coupons.com provide dozens of printable coupons that can be used on popular items and major brands. Every few weeks these coupons are updated offering new money saving deals.
In addition, many companies are now offering free coupons on their websites, many times as a “reward” for signing up for the product or brand newsletter. Best thing to do is search for your favorite brands websites and see if there is a link for coupons or deals.
Social media has added another opportunity for coupon hunters to get a hold of money saving deals. General Mills offers numerous coupons on special brand pages that you can LIKE on Facebook.
Message boards for couponers have popped up all over the internet, which is great for sharing information on hot deals, new coupon sites, coupon trading and even upcoming sales at some of the larger national stores.
As with anything on the internet, you need to be cautious of what websites you offer too much personal information on. Obviously the corporate websites for brands and stores are safe, but do some research, especially on coupon websites before downloading tool pars, printing programs, etc.
Another thing to watch for with internet coupons, many retailers are beginning to limit or even eliminate the use of internet coupons (must of this is due to “fraudulent” coupons). Always check your local stores coupon policies before heading out.
In the next blog, I will give you my list of ways that you can be a successful couponer and save your family money (even get you some free items in the process)
Please leave your comments or suggestions here. You can also send me messages on Twitter (@JonKurozawa) or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jonkurozawa)
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Saving on your grocery bill while unemployed
Being out of work and having a limited income makes you rethink a lot of things in your life. Going out, taking vacations, buying “wants’ as opposed to “needs”…just to name a few.
One of the things that you still have to do, especially when you have children, is grocery shopping. Feeding a family of six on a tight budget is not an easy thing to do…but with a little bit of hard work and planning, cutting your grocery bill by 40, 50…even 90% can be done.
About 6 weeks ago my wife stumbled across a show called “Extreme Couponing”, a reality show focusing in on families that have taken bargain shopping to the next level. These are people that have taken couponing to almost a full time job and obsession. I have seen dozens of people save 90-99% on their grocery bills, saving as much as $1,500 in one shopping trip.
This intrigued me, since I am obsessed with finding the best deals and scouring the clearance racks at my favorite retailers. After watching just one episode, I was inspired to join the “extreme couponing” culture.
I quickly cane to realize that this would not be as easy as I thought. The first stumbling block is the couponing policies of our local grocery stores. If you watch carefully on “Extreme Couponing” the featured shoppers will use hundreds upon hundreds of coupons, doubling many of them for unbelievable savings.
In the Milwaukee area, the two biggest grocery stores are Pick n Save and Sentry, both with differing coupon policies. Pick n Save has a strict “double coupon” policy; only on Wednesdays and Saturdays, maximum 5 coupons doubled up to $1.00 and you must spend a minimum of $25 prior to the coupon savings. Sentry varies on their days for “double coupon” savings, but they big restriction is not accepting “internet” coupons (which I will get to in a little bit)
This has made the possibility of copying the 90-99% savings of “Extreme Couponing” very difficult, but it has not swayed me from my goal of saving the most money at the grocery store.
Much of the success is reliant on planning your shopping trip. This does not mean just having the list of the items I need to buy, it goes much deeper than that. Every week when the store fliers come out (either in the mail of the Sunday paper) I scan to see what kind of great in store sales there are. My favorites are the “Buy 4 of this item, get $$ off…or get something else for free” or even better are the “Buy 8 of this item and get them for $1.99 each”. But these are the best when you have coupons.
Collecting and organizing coupons is the most time consuming item, and the one that most people stay away from. I have heard from numerous people that think clipping coupons is a waste of time or will not save them anything. On any given Sunday, there will be anywhere between $100-$400 dollars on coupons available for you to use.
If you do not organize your coupons, then you could potentially be wasting your time. I learned of the binder method, separating your coupons into 8-12 (or more) different categories (I use baseball card sheets to organize mine), this way they are easy to track and grab quickly. This is by far the most time consuming aspect of “extreme couponing” when you are first starting out.
After you look over the store fliers and figure out which coupons you have to match those sales…that’s where the fun begins…Planning the shopping trip. I tend to try to do my shopping on the “double coupon” days, but this tends to take extra planning too.
Once again you have to know your store’s coupon policies (they may not always be clearly posted, go to the Customer Service counter to inquire) otherwise you run the risk of not getting the greatest discount. You also have to be diligent in watching the cashier and the register screen to make sure you are getting the store price and that the discounts and coupons are being applied properly.
***NOTE TO MY TV NEWS Friends…someone please do an investigative story on the accuracy of store registers when it comes to applying in store discounts and scanning coupons. You may be shocked by what you find***
Stick to your list…another vital component to maximizing your savings. Nothing could be worse than going in with a list of 10 items (all on sale) and walking out with 40 blowing your grocery budget.
Tomorrow…Part two….finding and collecting more coupons!
One of the things that you still have to do, especially when you have children, is grocery shopping. Feeding a family of six on a tight budget is not an easy thing to do…but with a little bit of hard work and planning, cutting your grocery bill by 40, 50…even 90% can be done.
About 6 weeks ago my wife stumbled across a show called “Extreme Couponing”, a reality show focusing in on families that have taken bargain shopping to the next level. These are people that have taken couponing to almost a full time job and obsession. I have seen dozens of people save 90-99% on their grocery bills, saving as much as $1,500 in one shopping trip.
This intrigued me, since I am obsessed with finding the best deals and scouring the clearance racks at my favorite retailers. After watching just one episode, I was inspired to join the “extreme couponing” culture.
I quickly cane to realize that this would not be as easy as I thought. The first stumbling block is the couponing policies of our local grocery stores. If you watch carefully on “Extreme Couponing” the featured shoppers will use hundreds upon hundreds of coupons, doubling many of them for unbelievable savings.
In the Milwaukee area, the two biggest grocery stores are Pick n Save and Sentry, both with differing coupon policies. Pick n Save has a strict “double coupon” policy; only on Wednesdays and Saturdays, maximum 5 coupons doubled up to $1.00 and you must spend a minimum of $25 prior to the coupon savings. Sentry varies on their days for “double coupon” savings, but they big restriction is not accepting “internet” coupons (which I will get to in a little bit)
This has made the possibility of copying the 90-99% savings of “Extreme Couponing” very difficult, but it has not swayed me from my goal of saving the most money at the grocery store.
Much of the success is reliant on planning your shopping trip. This does not mean just having the list of the items I need to buy, it goes much deeper than that. Every week when the store fliers come out (either in the mail of the Sunday paper) I scan to see what kind of great in store sales there are. My favorites are the “Buy 4 of this item, get $$ off…or get something else for free” or even better are the “Buy 8 of this item and get them for $1.99 each”. But these are the best when you have coupons.
Collecting and organizing coupons is the most time consuming item, and the one that most people stay away from. I have heard from numerous people that think clipping coupons is a waste of time or will not save them anything. On any given Sunday, there will be anywhere between $100-$400 dollars on coupons available for you to use.
If you do not organize your coupons, then you could potentially be wasting your time. I learned of the binder method, separating your coupons into 8-12 (or more) different categories (I use baseball card sheets to organize mine), this way they are easy to track and grab quickly. This is by far the most time consuming aspect of “extreme couponing” when you are first starting out.
After you look over the store fliers and figure out which coupons you have to match those sales…that’s where the fun begins…Planning the shopping trip. I tend to try to do my shopping on the “double coupon” days, but this tends to take extra planning too.
Once again you have to know your store’s coupon policies (they may not always be clearly posted, go to the Customer Service counter to inquire) otherwise you run the risk of not getting the greatest discount. You also have to be diligent in watching the cashier and the register screen to make sure you are getting the store price and that the discounts and coupons are being applied properly.
***NOTE TO MY TV NEWS Friends…someone please do an investigative story on the accuracy of store registers when it comes to applying in store discounts and scanning coupons. You may be shocked by what you find***
Stick to your list…another vital component to maximizing your savings. Nothing could be worse than going in with a list of 10 items (all on sale) and walking out with 40 blowing your grocery budget.
Tomorrow…Part two….finding and collecting more coupons!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Welcome to the Journey of An Unemployed Dad
Greetings and thank you for venturing to my newest blog.
Here I will share with you stories, experiences, tips and insights from my journey to find my next job adventure. What this will not be is: "wow I applied for 5 jobs today" or "wonder if I will ever get an interview".
My hope is to share with you things that will be witty, inspiring and possibly life changing.
For those of you that don't know me...let me share just a little of my story...
I am a proud husband and father of 4 amazing children. My career has been a hodge podge ranging from radio to sports, with some retail and child care. The last five years have been focused on sales positions (one in radio one in pro sports) but my passion is for marketing and social media.
Get ready...as we start the journey. Thanks for coming along for the ride!
Here I will share with you stories, experiences, tips and insights from my journey to find my next job adventure. What this will not be is: "wow I applied for 5 jobs today" or "wonder if I will ever get an interview".
My hope is to share with you things that will be witty, inspiring and possibly life changing.
For those of you that don't know me...let me share just a little of my story...
I am a proud husband and father of 4 amazing children. My career has been a hodge podge ranging from radio to sports, with some retail and child care. The last five years have been focused on sales positions (one in radio one in pro sports) but my passion is for marketing and social media.
Get ready...as we start the journey. Thanks for coming along for the ride!
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