Monroe on a Budget

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 shopping lists that bloggers in other markets can easily do.

At first glace, the coupon selection looks to be pretty good. I counted three coupon books in my home delivery edition of The Monroe Evening News.

Here’s what to look for:

• Picnic food. Memorial Day weekend results in huge promotions on burgers, hot dogs, buns, sliced cheese, pop, condiments and anything that can be considered picnic food. Surprisingly enough, this list also includes potluck-friendly pantry items such as gelatin and cake mix. These sales are usually worth stocking up on for graduation parties and picnics later in the summer.
• Patriotic decor. Flag-waving red white and blue party supplies and decorations are applicable to many occasions throughout the year – not just patriotic holidays but also Boy Scout and Girl Scout celebrations, military sendoff or welcome home parties, baseball tailgate parties or NASCAR tailgate parties. BUT!!! You will find the best and most stocked-up selections just before Memorial Day.
• First aid supplies, bug spray, sunscreen. You know you’ll need this stuff for outdoor activities. Check your inventory, and replace the old or used-up products.
• Camping supplies. I admit: I haven’t been camping in about six years. That being said, we do use the camping chairs, ice chest and other items for tailgate parties and picnics. Do you need to replace any of your outdoor gear? You may be happier focusing your search on the better selections and inventory you’ll see in May than waiting for clearance pricing on gear that doesn’t suit your needs.
• Decorative solar lights. These have become standard camping gear in addition to yard decor. But did you also think of using these for disaster supplies if the power goes out? Severe weather season has started in Michigan

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

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 [...]

There’s been a lot of chatter in the news feeds this week – as there have been in recent years – about the 3.4 percent interest rate on one of the federal student loan programs and whether it should revert to a higher interest rate. But that detail has a minimal impact on the overall [...]

My husband and I returned to Michigan Monday from our travels in central Iowa. The reason for the trip was to see the graduation ceremony for my daughter, who has earned a master’s degree, and help her pack up for the move out. We added some sight-seeing and touristy stuff to our schedule. This was [...]

This announcement is for my readers in Monroe County, Mich., and will run soon in The Monroe Evening News: The Bridges Out of Poverty Clothes Works Program and Michigan Works! will host the First Impressions workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday May 30 at Stewart Road Christian Ministries Center, 1199 Stewart Rd., Monroe, [...]

The following announcement for my readers in the Monroe, Mich., area will run soon in The Monroe Evening News: A Mobile Food Pantry will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday June 1 at Local 723, United Auto Workers, hall, 281 Detroit Ave., Monroe, Mich. One free food package will be given to the [...]

By Paula Wethington / Monroe on a Budget I’ve visited central Iowa four times in the past year and a half, as my daughter was working on a master’s degree in Oskaloosa near Des Moines. Last weekend’s travel was my last – and my husband’s only – visit. My daughter finishes classes next week and [...]

I know this is short notice, but the information just came to my attention today: A six-week cooking and nutrition class will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays May 15 through June 19 at Monroe County Opportunity Program’s conference room, 1140 S. Telegraph Rd., Monroe, Mich. This free workshop is from the Share [...]

The Monroe on a Budget column runs Tuesdays in The Monroe Evening News. Here is this week’s installment: By Paula Wethington If you enjoy garage sale shopping, get ready for one of the busiest sale weekends of the year in Monroe County. While City of Monroe doesn’t host a citywide garage sale day, several other [...]

Stacy Johnson at Money Talks News has a terrific piece aimed at young adults who are trying to break into the job market at Ask Stacy: Why Can’t My Son Find Work? A snippet: The way to prevent rejection due to lack of experience is to apply for jobs that don’t require it. They probably [...]

When do payments start on federal student loans? The answer actually depends on which loans you have, and many students have a mix of loans. Federal Student Aid explains the schedule and overall options on its YouTube channel:

Here’s a six-second Vine video of my daughter on graduation day, as she has earned a master’s degree in business leadership from William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Graduate school is certainly brag-worthy for a Monroe resident, as the percentage of area residents who have even a two-year or four-year degree rate is noticeably lower [...]

This post is for my readers in and near Dundee, Mich.: Dundee Farmers Market, which is in the municipal parking lot on Tecumseh St. next to Devine Delights, in Dundee, Mich., will host a Mother’s Day Flower Sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday May 11. There will be hanging baskets, flats of flowers [...]

Just because society might recognize two people who live together as one couple, the law might not. And as I learned years ago from a friend who was “living with” her man, the lack of a marriage license with someone you consider to be a mate can have huge implications on the financial future for [...]

The following announcement for my readers in Monroe, Mich., is in today’s edition of The Monroe Evening News: U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, will host a Veter­ans Fair from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at Monroe Post 1138, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 400 Jones Ave., Monroe, Mich. State Rep. Dale Zorn, who serves on the [...]

Monday’s edition of The Monroe Evening News has a piece by our editor, Deborah Saul, about people who chose to, or were forced into, a different line of work late in life. The examples are of people who started their own business or took over a business. The article, Baby boomers start over with new [...]

The Monroe on a Budget column runs Tuesdays in The Monroe Evening News. Here is this week’s installment: I’ve had some phone call discussions lately with people who are looking for financial help either for themselves or a family member. In response, I gave suggestions on where to look for community resources and tips on [...]

This announcement is for my Downriver / Detroit readers: Southpoint Community Christian Church of Trenton, MI will host its second annual Blessfest Southwest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday June 1 at Patton Park, 2301 Woodmere St., Detroit. This community fair for the southwest Detroit area offers a variety of free medical resources and screenings, [...]

Many of the programs and classes offered by the City of Monroe Recreation Department are free to participants, with the help of city budget funds and / or business sponsors. But there are some that do have fees. This is what the city lists in its summer 2013 flier about youth scholarships: As funds are [...]