I do now.

Here’s the Monroe on a Budget facebook fan page.

Here’s my facebook “reporter / blogger” page and my Linked In for those who want to network with me for newspaper or blog business.

I also have a Monroe on a Budget Twitter account, and that’s been a lot of fun.

On the assumption that my co-workers will find a solution for future live discussion events … what are topic ideas that you think would work for Monroe on a Budget fans?

The reason I didn’t do a live chat sooner is I couldn’t think of a topic that would lend itself to that format. We did consider doing a back-to-school chat; but we ran into schedule conflicts, and Halloween ended up being my inaugural live event.

The ideas I have are:

Christmas on a Budget – to be held in early November because community Christmas events in Monroe, Mich., do start in mid-November. Discussion topics would include: Black Friday, how to find sales if you can’t shop on Black Friday, free holiday events in the region, how to send Christmas cards without spending a ton of money, ideas for inexpensive but enjoyable gifts, fun but inexpensive kitchen treats, how to downplay the commercial aspect of Christmas.

Back to School on a Budget - to be held in mid-August, immediately after the Monroe County Fair because that’s when local families start prepping for the school year. (Some of the best school supply sales are found in July, but I can’t help the fact that July is family vacation season in Monroe.) Discussion topics would include: how to deal with sports and club fees, school lunch options, senior year expenses, school supply expenses, the school supply giveaways in Monroe County, getting the college kids ready for dorm life or commuter life.

Grocery Shopping on a  Budget - could be done any time of year. This would be based on my popular Grocery Shopping on a Budget presentation and the new 8-week grocery shopping plan. Discussion topics would include: how to sort your coupons, how to find the sales, pros and cons of the e-coupon programs, bulk grocery purchase programs and ways to save both time and money when preparing dinner.

Would any of these ideas be of interest?

Are there other frugal living or personal finance topics that you’d like to see me – or someone else – do in a live format?

And what is the best time of day to host a live chat? I set the Halloween one up for 8 p.m. so to be past dinner and errand time.  But one of my friends said she’s getting her children ready for bed at that hour and thinks a 9 or 10 p.m. start time is better. (Disclaimer: I am not going to do any chatting between midnight and 6 a.m. There is just not enough coffee in the coffee pot for that scenario, sorry.)

You can post a comment here or e-mail me at paula@monroenews.com.

Now, here’s what to expect as this gets going.

The main chat will be at monroenews. The format on the monroenews chats is “ask the expert” style. Readers ask the questions, the “expert” (in this case, me) answers. When our webmaster loads up the chat program tonight, you’ll see a window where you can send your questions. I will see a queue where the questions are listed, click the questions over to the chat window and start replying.

Because I expect mostly a local audience on the newspaper site, the discussion details will be directed to my local readers in Monroe, Mich.

I’ve been tracking down trick-or-treat times, ticket prices to corn mazes, dates for the Toledo and Detroit zoo parties, and checking out the costumes that are in the local retail and second-hand stores. I can even post links to pictures I’ve been taking around town to show you some of what I’ve seen.

Keep in mind that southeast Michigan has been hit very hard by the recession, and  a lot of local families have to do their Halloween fun on a budget this year. That’s why I came up with this topic.

National readers are welcome to chime in at monroenews with questions on topics that apply to everyone such as how to calculate the cost of candy, and inexpensive cake and cookie decorating ideas. But don’t ask me about the candy specials at a store in Florida. I don’t know the answer – sorry!

In the meantime, I’ll keep a side conversation going on Twitter and will do some crossposting back and forth between the two sites.

Twitter chats typically follow the format of the moderator asks the questions and everybody else chimes in. If you don’t yet have a twitter account, it’s free and you can participate either on a computer or wireless phone that uses texting. Look for me under screen name @monroeonabudget and the hashtag we’ll use is #trickortreat.

Since most of my twitter readers are national rather than local, that chatter won’t be so local-specific.

Here are some of the questions I will be posting on twitter:

• What’s your favorite Halloween treat?
• What’s your favorite Halloween color?
• What Halloween expense are you cutting back on this year?
• What Halloween tradition are you doing the first time this year?
• What is your favorite frugal trick for Halloween?
• What will your kids (or you) be dressing as for Halloween?

I’m dressed for the occasion today with a purple blouse, orange sweater and black pants …

1. What is the purpose of coupons?
A. To advertise a product.
B. To save you money.

2. There’s a coupon on 2 for 1 single serve candy bars. At what store do you use that coupon?
A. The store that has candy bars for 50 cents each.
B. The store that has candy bars for 88 cents each.

3. The store is having super double coupon sale up to $2 value. You have a 75 cents off coupon for a product that has a retail price of $1.25. How much will you pay for that product?
A. You will get a refund of 25 cents.
B. The product will be free.

4. If you prefer or need to cook from scratch or use homemade mixes, don’t bother with coupons. It’s all junk food.
A. True.
B. False.

5. Generic products are always cheaper than brand-name products.
A. False.
B. True.

6. You live in a market where some stores double coupons up to 50 cents and some stores take all coupons at face value. Where will you use the $1 off coupon?
A. At the double coupon store.
B. At the store that does not double coupons.

7. There’s a product you normally never buy because you think the cost is outrageous. Do you save the coupon for that product?
A. Yes.
B. No.

8. You have a coupon for $1 off a product. The smaller package costs $3, the bigger package costs $5. Which is the better one to use with your coupon?
A. The bigger package. Buying in bulk is always smarter.
B. The smaller package. The percentage off works in your favor.

9. Meat products such as hamburger, steak, pork chops, ham, turkey and chicken rarely have coupon deals available. How do you handle the cost of meat?
A. Use coupons for buns and condiments.
B. Buy your meat in “family packs” and split the product up into meal-sized portions when you get home.
C. Watch for the butcher’s specials and holiday promotions.
D. Purchase meat from the “grocery by the box” programs such as Angel Food Ministries.
E. Make friends with a hunter.
F. All of the above.

10. You’re finding a really good bargain on cereal. You have all the right coupons, the sale price is good, and you can even trade in some receipts or UPC codes for a rebate. How much cereal do you buy?
A. As much as the store will let you carry out the door in one transaction.
B. A three-month supply so you can start on an emergency stockpile plan.
C. Only as much cereal as your family will eat before the expiration dates come up.

Answer key:

1. A. The purpose is advertising. The food companies and supermarket chains don’t care if you save money or not, although the fact you are saving money can result in good public relations for their company. They want their products off the shelves and into shopping carts.
2. A. You only “saved” 50 cents instead of 88 cents. But the bottom line is that you bought those two candy bars for 25 cents each instead of 44 cents each.
3. B. In most cases, stores double or accept at face value coupons only up to the cost of the product. If you want to get money back for buying products, you need to be adding other money-saving tactics such as rebates into the mix.
4. B. The coupon mix depends on the season of the year. You will find “cook from scratch” products such as flour, sugar and spices promoted during the weeks just before Thanksgiving  / Christmas and Easter. Besides, the year-round coupon mix includes pet food, vitamins, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, toothpaste and pain relievers – products that most families use regardless of their taste in food.
5. A. If you don’t use coupons or pay attention to the sales fliers, generic products will be better priced than the name-brand products. But save that trick for when you are caught off-guard by a necessary purchase. There have been many times when I purchased name-brand products for free or very huge discounts compared to the cost of generic products. But in order to do that, I am often making those purchases in advance of actual “need”.
6. B. In most cases, you are better off saving the higher-value coupons for use at the stores that do not double coupons.
7. A. If the only reason you don’t buy the product is the price, save the coupon. There may be a sale that will surprise you during the coupon run. Now, if it’s a product you would never use because you don’t like the taste or the results, then put the coupon in your giveaway box.
8. B. Do the math per unit, ounce, serving size, etc. But in most cases, the smaller package is the one you want to put a coupon on. This is why warehouse-sized packages are not necessarily the best choice for a product that frequently has coupons in circulation.
9. F. You want to use as many of those tactics as possible. All of the above tricks can work, but it depends on the week or time of year. Pay attention to what and how much meat you use on a monthly basis, and you’ll have a pretty good idea what meats to purchase and freeze for future use on when deals are available.
10. C. Regardless of whatever the product is, do not buy more than your family will eat or use before the expiration date. The only exception is when you are intending to make a food pantry donation and will be donating that food or personal care product long before the expiration date.

What’s your score?

1 to 3 right answers: Is there a bargain-loving friend or relative you can “job shadow” on a couple of her grocery shopping trips?

4 to 6 right answers: You are on the right track. Make the effort to fine-tune your grocery acquisition skills and you’ll see the savings that the coupon queens brag about. I’m spending less per person on groceries, cleaning products and personal care items than I was five or six years ago – and I thought I was doing a good job then.

7 to 10 right answers: Oh, enlightened one. You probably have your own blog.

(P.S. Hello to the MSN Smart Spending readers!)

“No job. No money. No car. … But I am sure good looking!”

The shirt is among a collection that is available this week for $5.99.

As I just put on my twitter:

A reason for rest of you to luv Michigan this week: We can out-frugal anybody. We have lots of practice at it. Sigh.

Now, who should you be reading from Michigan that knows about frugal living or has valuable information to share? Here are some sites and blogs to check out.

• Sara Noel at Frugal Village. She’s from Saginaw, even though her column and web site are aimed at a national audience. The Frugal Village forums are also wonderful.
• Julie’s List. This is my favorite southeast Michigan resource site. Sign up for her e-mail newsletter to get time-sensitive announcements beyond what’s in the standing database.
• Downriver Vicariate’s Career Transitions Page. This resource site overlaps somewhat with what Julie and I are doing, so if you are in southeast Michigan, check this site out too.
• Free Money Finance. This is a well-known national blogger who is based in Grand Rapids.
• Monroe County Public Library’s Lifesavers for a Sinking Economy page. In addition to useful links, you’ll get book suggestions!
• Mom 2 Mom List. Nobody else does a rummage sale like one sees in southeast Michigan with the Mom 2 Mom sales. This trend really did start in the Detroit area. The twist is that Mom 2 Mom sales feature only kids’ clothing, furniture, toys and accessories.
  

It’s not that I hide my hobbies, it’s just that people don’t expect them from an otherwise very practical-minded woman whose current claim to fame is frugal living.

The first one: I really do have a Barbie doll collection.

The second one: I really am a member of a national Star Trek club. In fact, I served as the Toledo chapter’s vice president for 10 years. My Trek friends and I are planning a group outing to see the movie later this week.

And so, while you are laughing over the thought of me in a Starfleet uniform, and I really do own two Next Generation science officer outfits (this photo was taken in 1995 when I had “big hair”) ….

I bring you Weakonomics’ Six lessons Star Trek can teach you about money.

Patricia Montemurri has a column about that craze in the Detroit Free Press.

If you’re interested in the wristbands, they cost $3 each and can be ordered at http://laidoffneedajob.com.

Obviously, these days the blogger doesn’t spend as much money on this hobby as she once did. The doll magazine she subscribed to for years is no longer publishing. She hasn’t been to a doll show in about five years. She hasn’t belonged to a doll club or been to a doll convention in nine years.

And she’s learned to wait for birthday, Christmas, etc. to get the Barbie dolls she likes out of each year’s new releases.

Well.

The Then and Now Bathing Suit 50th Birthday Barbie was just too cute for words and the budget blogger decided she wanted one. The doll has been seen in some sales fliers this week. $3 at Kmart. Budget blogger went to two Kmarts on Sunday. No dolls. All sold out.

The doll was also listed in the Kohl’s sales flier for Wednesday. Budget blogger couldn’t get to Kohl’s until lunch time. No dolls by that time. All sold out.

Of course, the doll can be found on eBay. At much higher bids than what the sales fliers had.

Budget blogger was very bummed.

Today, budget blogger had to go to Kroger in Monroe because she was in dire need of trash bags. And there on a retail display rack is the cute Barbie doll for only $12.99.

So what if she had to pay more than $3?

Budget blogger knows $13 is a fair price for a new Barbie doll.

It’s a much cheaper price than the second-hand market is already asking for this doll.

Budget blogger has the new Barbie!

Yay!