Remove seed stalks from spring flowering bulbs

Our daffodils, tulips andhyacinths are doneblooming for the season. That doesn’t mean that we can forget about them. There’s still some work left to be done that will greatly improve our chances for flowers next year. Right now the plants are beginning to form seed pods at the end of the flower stalks — where [...]

Kroger shopping cart May 23

Is it possible to find coupon savings when your shopping list is skewed toward what your family needs or wants to eat that week? Of course, it is. The trick is to bring your coupon box or binder with you to the store even on the “I specifically need this … ” trips. This is [...]

Video of Church Tackles Stern Planer Board, the TX-007

Really nice new video of Church’s new TX-007, Stern Planer Board, in action https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CLgF_fR5SZQ

But why do so many used clothes flood the global market?

National Public Radio has a piece that’s probably better suited for an ecological, global affairs, or fashion blog than a money blog at The Global Afterlife of Your Donations. But stay with me. The discussion point is what happens after the donated clothing has already had a shelf life at the second-hand stores. Much of [...]

Teens migrating to Twitter

The Monroe Evening News has this piece by the Associated Press: Teens migrating to Twitter. A snippet: In the poll, 94 percent of teens who are social media users have a profile on Facebook flat from the previous year. … Continue reading →

Britches and Bows Resale Boutique opens in Monroe

The following article is on page 8A of today’s edition of The Monroe Evening News. Be sure to check out my list of area thrift shops for more second-hand shopping options: Britches & Bows Childrens Resale Boutique has opened at 543 Rambow Dr., Monroe, Mich. Owned by Johanna Williams of Monroe, it sells gently used [...]

Why social media doesnt work for your business

Social media isn’t advertising. It’s public relations. That’s the difference brands and businesses need to understand when they decide to adopt social media as part of their marketing strategy. For further discussion, go to the CrowdSpring blog and read This … Continue reading →

How Not to Lose a Walleye on the Hook

  You have done everything right, you have a walleye on the line and to borrow a term from the football world, its time to play prevent defense. When I see a defense drop back to stop the big play, I cringe watching the opposing team chew up yardage underneath while moving down the field [...]

How to be a better social media community manager

The social media job that I referred to as “social media liaison” in spring 2009 is now typically referred to in the industry as “community manager.” The collective wisdom of how to survive, and succeed, in such a role for … Continue reading →

Encourage high school students to build community service resumes early

The Monroe on a Budget column runs Tuesdays in The Monroe Evening News. Here is this week’s installment: By Paula Wethington Do you want one tip that will help your high school student be the best possible candidate for college acceptance and scholarship awards? It’s all in the timing of what you can put on [...]

Michigan friends: are you ready for stormy weather?

The National Weather Service in Detroit has posted forecasts that indicate thunderstorms, possibly severe, are likely today (Tuesday May 21) and Wednesday in southeast Michigan. If you are one of my local readers, this morning or early afternoon is a good time to double-check disaster preparedness details such as whether everyone in the family remembers [...]

Reader question: How can I sell my doll collection?

One of the Google search strings that landed on my blog this weekend was this: “how can i sell my doll collection toledo ohio” Whether you live in Toledo, Monroe, Detroit or elsewhere, the answer is the same: You can try a garage sale or estate sale; rent out a flea market table; take out [...]

When frugality goes too far in regards to canceling subscriptions

My co-workers and I on the social desk at The Monroe Evening News know, based on the conversations with our customers, that some of them are not daily subscribers. Some people have the paper delivered only on weekends, or pick up single copies only on occasion. There is no difference in photo pricing, obituary pricing, [...]

Monroe MI sales and deals week of May 19

I didn’t do a “sales and deals” roundup last weekend, as I was out of town. Because the Monroe County, Mich., grocery market falls between Toledo and Detroit, and the supermarket sales and coupon distributions overlap in strange ways in our community, I’ve decided to point out overall trends every week than to write detailed [...]

Detroit Beach Boat Club Tourney

Detroit Beach Boat Club May 25, 2013 – Boat Club across from Sterling State Park 6am Start, Weigh-in at DBBC at 2pm $20 per person, non-members welcome Prizes for the following: … Most Weight – 5 Walleye Weighed (Only 1 allowed over 25 inches) Heaviest Single Walleye Heaviest Single Junk Fish Sheephead, [...]

How to make the most of a city-wide yard sale

Several southeast Michigan communities host city-wide yard sales. Here’s a video I did of the spring 2013 Carleton MI village-wide sale:

External VS Internal Motivation

One of my favorite experiments that I’ve come across was conducted with college students where some were paid for doing puzzles and others were not. Later, all were given some free time to read magazines, do more puzzles, or whatever. Those who had been paid for doing the puzzles worked less on puzzles in their [...]

Just a Thought

VA Ann Arbor hospital moving to electronic transfers for beneficiary travel

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is taking steps similar to what has been seen from other government agencies in recent years, and moving away from paper checks for payments and reimbursements to electronic transfers to an existing bank account. A key point is: cash for beneficiary travel will no longer be available at the [...]

Avon recalls microwave oven popcorn-makers

Avon is recalling microwave popcorn-makers because they can catch fire. For details, click here.