Wow, I was thrilled this Sunday, when I read Jane Clifford’s column in The San Diego Union newspaper, and yours truly and Prohomemaker.com were mentioned!

Click here for the link.

This harkens back to this post last week about folks who had lived through the Depression. Still a great read, and I was thrilled with the mention.

Sorry for not a more helpful post Saturday, but I just needed to vent.

As you may have read, I have had trouble ordering these great towels at a great price through Neiman Marcus.

I got the order today — “Great,” I said, after a long day at work, but then I looked in the box. The monograms are great, and I am happy with the quality, but half the order was in the wrong color!

I’m not talking a little off — I ordered a neutral beige — they are a pukey pink … think coral.

I looked at the email confirmation, and the stupid person who screwed up the delivery charges — which took more than a half hour on the phone and an email to resolve — now screwed up the color!

So, once again, I sent an email to get the color changed. I already have my backup plan in place — dispute the charge. Yeah! for buying with a charge card — it’s your recourse.

But gosh, I am so resenting the time this has taken.

I’ll keep you posted, but thanks for letting me vent as I pull my hair out.

Just had to give a big shout-out to a wonderful blog called Kcinnova’s World. Not only because it’s an enjoyable blog to read about a Mom of four boys — who is also a great bargain-hunter, but also because I just won her contest this week on naming what you’re thankful for.

Make it a stop on your blogging rounds!

I’m heading out of town for Los Angeles, so I’ll be gone from Friday and coming back Sunday evening. Rest assured, I will be back and blogging Monday, but even Prohomemaker needs some time off.

Thank you so much for being a fan of the web site. I’m happy to say readership of my blog is growing. I get so much pleasure from knowing I am helping people across the country to save time and money, and enjoy life.

If you’re enjoying the posts, I would hope you would tell your friends. They, too, will enjoy many organizing hints, cleaning ideas, easy recipes, and money-saving tips.

I’ve got a slew of new posts coming, so check back Monday.

Sorry for the down post, but I wanted to report that today at Albertsons the cashier did not accept Internet coupons. From what I hear from the forums at Couponmom.com, this is getting to be prevalent.

If you run into the same problem, I strongly encourage you to take the time and talk to store management.

I’ve heard from cashiers that they are running into fradulent coupons (photocopied), but if you look at any Internet coupon, there is a security measure in the upper-right corner that cannot be photocopied correctly. The cashiers need to be trained to spot copied coupons — and the store management needs to know these are valid coupons, and you’re not going to accept the new policy.

My coupons were printed from the manufacturer’s site, and they would not accept them. This is wrong!

Let your voice speak loudly, because otherwise the stores will continue to adopt this idiotic blanket policy. Internet coupons are the wave of the future, and the stores need to know. This is money out of your pocket!

If talking with the manager does no good, I highly recommend calling or writing the District Manager. This raises eyebrows, I’ve heard from people who work in grocery stores.

OK, I will get off my soap box now — and you know I complained.

Had some great responses over the last few days I just wanted to comment on.

First, I received my most hits ever for this great tip on getting three months free of Oprah’s magazine (and no auto renewals!).

Second, Farmer’s Wife posted a fantastic vlog, showing how great the coupon tips work from these posts. She got some fantastic deals — and a new pair of shoes with her savings!

Watch her excitement here:

Happy dance from the coupon savings!

She’s out of town now, battling the storm effects of “Ike,” but she underscores how you will reap the savings from following the couponmom.com system. Farmer’s Wife has been saving her coupon flyers — and not cutting them out — for more than 3 months, and now she is seeing the savings come through (and how easy it is to save money). Congratulations! You made my heart swell.

Two final things — I did well this week. Got 8 boxes of Hamburger and Tuna Helper for 50 cents a box. I’m stocked up for months. That’s another couponmom tip — stockpile when items hit their lowest point.

Finally, I’ll have a great recipe for you tomorrow. To make it even faster, roast a large chicken breast tonight in the toaster oven, using this recipe. You’ll have a great dinner prepped in less than 30 minutes.

Wonderful comments posted today … gonna write more about ‘em when it’s not so late. Thanks for taking the time, because I love reading ‘em!

And, on a side note, please tell your friends if you like what you’re reading … it gives me such inspiration when I see new readers!

I am so mad! Effective August 20th in California, Vons is murdering its double coupons policy to only be valid for up to a $1 in savings!

After doing some Googling, I found Ralphs recently pulled the same.

With every American budget be slashed by the horrible economy, high gas prices and more, Vons is joining on the bandwagon of sticking it to the U.S. consumer! I am off now to find *the* lowest prices — be it at Walmart, Big Lots, and, guess what? Stater Bros., which has the lowest grocery prices in California.

Sign this online petition to protest.

I’ll be back to Vons when a true double coupons policy re-emerges.

I have been loving all the posts I’ve received and just wanted to follow up on some questions and make some comments:

Finally, a tip from me — there are 70 posts here so far, so look back on previous pages, or check the categories at right to scan all that has been offered so far. Oh, and just want to say, I love reading your comments! I read each of them every day — it’s just difficult sometimes to respond to all so I can give you a fresh post every day. But I truly love ‘em all — and read ‘em all.

Thanks go out to all the great comments I have received over the last few days. With guests and preparing, I have been behind in responding. Please forgive me. But I have read each and every one — and enjoyed all.
Prohomemaker