Happy Labor Day Weekend all,

Chase posted an ad last month issuing a $20 reward for setting up automatic bill pay. I don't think my offer 'took'. I've had a few bills paid and don't see them in my bill pay lineup. Here is part of their offer I cut and paste:

"Thank you for enrolling your Chase Debit Card in this FREE Bill Payment promotion. Use your debit card when contacting service providers (Phone, Cable/Satelite TV. Insurance and Utilities) to pay 3 or more qualifying bills by October 31, 2009 and you'll get $20 deposited into the account you selected at the time of enrollment. If you need help finding your service providers please visit ChaseBillManager.com."

I sent them an email with questions. Have you Chase users seen this? Do you use automatic bill pay at Chase?

I really want the $20! My bills so far are small - NetZero (yes, I have dial-up; a one-time utility bill and Time Warner Cable (basic service - network and educational). Low budget.

We shall see...

Today's book: UNCLUTTER YOUR HOME by Donna Smallin. Many good snippets and tips. But the bag I took to the thrift store with brand new shirts (wrong size) and shorts was a better action than reading about decluttering. Yes, taking actions was worth more than reading about it. I also have suits in a smaller size too that I haven't worn in years but I can't let go. Eh la?

Have you decluttered today?

Why do I love coffee so much? Why is the sky blue. I just scored (have to watch my writing, I really am an addict) 4 cans of Bustelo at Associated for $2.99 each.

I am in heaven.

What are you drinking bookworms?

Oh - todays score at Goodwill - 100 ZONE FOODS for $1.99 plus tax. Not bad. I really like the Zone - if I could afford to eat that way consistently and thoroughly. I am hypoglycemic. Veggies cost money. I know, buy what is in season. It is about 40-30-30 and regulating insulin. (More than you wanted to know, I know.) I do the best I can while broke. DH is diabetic and lost a lot on Sugarbusters and maintained it.

Actually I could use help from others using the Zone. How do YOU save money being in the Zone?

Welcome to the first entry of my blog. I am a young-at-heart bookish woman. My favorite quote is from Erasmus (This is not verbatim, feel free to correct): 'when I get a little money, I buy books. If any is left over, I buy food and clothes.'

Today I went to three thrift shops where I scouted books. A church thriftshop (always good pickins). Goodwill (getting expensive, though cheaper than namebrandshops) and Salvation Army. At Goodwill I find the prize, Suze Orman's WOMEN AND MONEY. In hardcover, yet. For $1.99. I could have gotten it at the library, I suppose, but I had to have it. (part of my book addiction). Suze is SOOOO GOOD. I have the YOUNG FABULOUS AND BROKE one; the COURAGE TO BE RICH (like I need courage to be rich, honestly, though Suze makes an excellent case, as usual, for soul searching...)Sally Ann was a washout except for SELF HELP NATION by Tom Tiede, a truly revealing (in good and bad ways; always good to learn about oneself) for $.99. A steal. The church thriftshop gave me a good paperback copy of the Bible. I can't have too many bibles. I collect them.

What does any of this have to do with saving money? Well, it cheers me up inbetween job hunting and taking actions to hunt and but books.I like saving money/stretching it till it cries out in pain. And books, especially books on saving money, making it last, are wonderful. Frugality for the sake of value rules. And entertainment.

Good books are the best friends.

How do you save/spend money - on books or anything else? Bye for now.