Chipotle has a special promotion in Georgia and Iowa. (Those are the only states I am aware of having this promotion. If there are others, please share.) Chipotle customers who purchase a burrito, taco, salad or burrito bowl on July 30 and/or July 31, can return Aug. 2 and Aug. 3 for a free burrito, burrito bowl, order of tacos or salad, with proof of previous purchase.

Chipotle Promotion in Georgia

Chipotle Promotion in Iowa

Thanks to a gracious reader for sharing this deal.

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A friend of mine recently told me she was laid off. She seemed surprised but I wasn’t. Not that she was a bad employee, but because she worked for a home products company. With the dramatic drop in home sales and the shrinking of the credit markets providing home equity loans, it was just a matter of time before companies selling home products and services would see a drop in their business as well.I had nudged her to look for a new job last year when the economy and especially the job market were still in good shape. Instead she chose to take a wait and see approach.

You can take a wait and see approach with your weekend dinner plans, but you can’t take a wait and see approach with your job. You have to be constantly looking. Even if you are not looking for another job, you need to be looking at your current job. How is your industry? Is it growing or shrinking? If you aren’t sure, then you probably can’t be sure of having a job.

It’s not just your job performance that matters. The performance of your department, company and industry can all influence your job, so it literally pays to pay attention to any changes. In my friend’s case, if she had been paying attention to the trouble in her industry or even her company she could have seen the signs that her job was in trouble.

It’s always easier and wiser to look for a job when you still have a job. Here’s a few reasons why:

1. 1. You are more likely to find a better job. When you are employed you have a clearer perspective and can evaluate potential offers based on their merits not on when you get your first paycheck.
2. 2. You are less likely to make any rash decisions simply because your rent is due and you need a job.
3. 3. You will be more successful at interviews. You can concentrate on explaining your skills and experience instead of explaining why you are currently unemployed. Not to mention how much more confident you will portray yourself.
4. 4. Most importantly, you will be more successful at negotiating your job offer since your future employer knows you don’t need  the job.

I know sometimes being laid off can be a total surprise, but generally there are signs. You just have to look for them.

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Here are this week’s school supply deals:

K-Mart

25 cents: Crayola crayons 24-pk
33 cents: No.2 pencils 10-pk
$1.50: Bic mechanical pencils 12-pk, Westcott scissors, Scotch tape 4-pk

Office Depot

1 cent: Office Depot school glue
5 cents: Faux wood 12″ ruler
30 cents: Composition book
50 cents: Crayola colored pencils 12-pk and Wilson Jones 1″ poly binders

Free After Rebate: Dry erase markers 4-pk

TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator: $75 After Rebate ($100-$25)
TI-84 Plus Silver Graphing Calculator: $115 After Rebate ($140-$25)
TI-Nspire Graphing Calculator: $135 After Rebage ($160-$25)
Free with purchase of any TI Graphing Calculator: Protective calculator case in assorted designs

OfficeMax

1 cent: 12″ ring binder ruler and Color crayons 24-pk
5 cents: Sharpie Mini highlighter
25 cents: Assorted erser value pak and ACME junior pointed or blunt 5″ scissors
99 cents: Index cards 300-pk, Microban 5″ scissors, pink erasers 5-pk and Avery 8-tab insertable dividers

Staples

1 cent: Slider pencil case
20 cents: 2-pocket plastic report cover
25 cents: Mini stapler

Free After Rebate
Pentel gel pens 4-pk
Staples electric pencil sharpener

TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator: $80 After Rebate ($100 - $10 instant savings - $10 rebate)
TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator: $90 After Rebate ($120 - $15 instant savings - $15 rebate)
TI-84 Plus Silver Graphing Calculator: $100 After Rebate ($130 - $15 instant savings - $15 rebate)

Target

10 cents: Twin pockets portfolios with or without prongs
50 cents: Composition book 100 sheet wide ruled
$1: Elmer’s glue sticks 6-pk

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These days with the high cost of gas everyone is talking about the cost of ownership of a car, specifically large cars like SUVs and trucks. While the price of gas greatly affects the cost of ownership of a car (as well as affecting your wallet) there are many other ways to think about the cost of ownership in your daily life.

While the initial cost of items on sale seem enticing, it’s important to take a step back and examine the cost of ownership. As the new iPhone came out, many were rushing to get the new phone at the lower price but failed to realize they also had to sign a two year contract with at&t (I keep wanting to type AT&T) for a high-priced plan.

Yesterday, I picked up my dry cleaning and noticed the price to dry clean my new blue blouse was $8.50! I did have a 30% off coupon, but that’s still too expensive. I questioned the expense and was told the design of the blouse with the wrap around ties makes it more time consuming to press. Granted this is a $100 blouse but I only paid $20 for it. I made sure that it was cotton and not silk when I purchased it but didn’t consider the style. My cost of ownership is now 42.5%, so what should I do?

With fuel, food and commodity prices increasing daily, it’s even more important to consider the cost of ownership of an item before we purchase. From printers to coffee makers to clothes the total costs of ownership can quickly add up.

What items have you noticed having a higher cost of ownership (other than kids) today?

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This week is Restaurant Week in Atlanta and New York City. You can enjoy a three course meal at some of the city’s best restaurants for only $25 - $35. Actually New York City will run Restaurant Week for two weeks, so you can try out many restaurants that have been on list. Boston, Dallas, Houston and Washington, DC will hold their events during the second week in August. In the second week of September Los Angeles will hold its Restaurant Week. To see when your city has their restaurant week just do a Google search for the name of your city followed by restaurant week.

After your dinner, don’t forget to share your Restaurant Week experience with us.

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Here are this week’s school supply deals:

K-Mart

9 cents: Notebook 70 sheet
20 cents: Elmers 4oz glue and Elmer’s 2-pk glue sticks
50 cents: book covers and plastic school boxes

Office Depot

1 cent: Translucent 2-pocket poly portfolio
15 cents: Notebook filler paper 150 ct
25 cents: Scholastic crayons 16-pk
50 cents: 1″ vinyl binder

Free After Rebate: Sharp Scientific Calculator

TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator: $75 After Rebate ($100-$25)
TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator: $115 After Rebate ($140-$25)

OfficeMax

1 cent: 12″ flexible ruler
10 cents: Sharpie Mini pen
25 cents: Poly binders, glue sticks
50 cents: Compostion book 100-sheet

Target

20 cents: Elmers 2-pk glue sticks, wood ruler, 2-ct pink erasers and pencil sharpener
50 cents: Designer portfolios
88 cents: 12-pk Crayola colored pencils

TI-83 Plus Graphing Calculator: $89

Wal-Mart

5 cents: Notebook 70-sheet
15 cents: 2-pocket portfolio
22 cents: Elmers 4oz glue and Elmer’s 2-pk glue sticks, Crayola 24-pk crayons
50 cents: Composition book
88 cents: Bic 10-pk pens, 70 sheet notebook, poly portfolio, Crayola 10-pk markers, Crayola 12-pk colored pencils
97 cents: 1″ 3-ring binder, 12″ flexible ruler, PaperMate 2-pk erasers and PaperMate 24-pk No. 2 pencils

Walgreens

5 cents (with coupon in ad): 2-pocket folder, 5-pk PaperMate mechanical pencils, mini composition book 80 sheets and Penway highlighter
10 cents (with coupon in ad): White posterboard
19 cents (with coupon in ad): Wood or flexible ruler, Penway No.2 pencils 10-pk, Penway 2-ct pink erasers, Penway 15-pk cap erasers
33 cents: Penway school glue, Penway 8-pk jumbo crayons, Penway 24-pk crayons
39 cents (with coupon in ad): Bic highlighter 5-pk
99 cents: Crayola 12-pk colored pencils, Penway 120 sheet 3 subject notebook

Free After Rebate: Pilot G2 gel ink pen 2-pk, Crayola 8-pk washable markers, Crayola 12-pk doodling washable markers (what in the world are doodling markers?!?), and Crayola 20-pk Super Tips washable markers

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We all have routines. We do the same things everyday without thinking about them. Yet, if you step back and examine your daily consumption, you might find ways to cut back. I don’t mean giving up anything, just using less.

To show you what I mean, I will share my daily routine and what items I am now using less.

Morning

I started using half of my regular amount of shampoo and body wash and I still get clean. I don’t have as many suds as before, but I still have enough to get clean. Cutting my conditioner in half really affected my frizzy hair, so that I will not change. So you can see that this one change has cut my shampoo and body wash needs in half.

Noon

Time for lunch. Getting lunch ready I spill something. I would usually tear off a couple of paper towels to clean the mess. Now, I start with one and get more as needed.

Evening

After dinner and dessert I load all the dishes in the dishwasher. I typically wash everything under “Normal Wash” however now that I am taking the time to look at my routines I notice this button on my dishwasher that says “Water Miser.” I try it to see. And yes, it cleaned my dishes just fine. Later I looked in the manual to learn more about this option and learn that using this option not only saves water by 40% but it also heats the water only once instead of twice, thus saving on energy.

These are just a few examples, but you get the jist. Taking the time to examine our everyday product and energy consumptions can lead to savings.

Are there any ways you are using less and still getting the same result? Share them in the comments.

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Please share your comments about the content and look and feel of this blog. Or have you been wondering where to find a deal or how to negotiate your new car? This is the time to ask. Leave your questions in the comments and I will try to answer them in future blog posts.

Thanks!

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Here are this week’s school supply deals:

Office Depot

1 cent: Office Depot red eraser 12-pk, 6″ protractor, 2-pocket paper folder and acrylic ruler

Free After Rebate: TOPS® Colored Junior Size Writing Pads 6-pk

OfficeMax

1 cent: OfficeMax wood ruler
5 cents: OfficeMax compass, protractor
25 cents: UV Coated folders
30 cents: 12-pack colored pencils

Other Promotion: Free $10 gas card with purchase of one double pack or two single packs of HP ink.

RiteAid

25 cents: Elmers 4oz glue
44 cents: 24-pk Crayola crayons
50 cents: Mead 100 sheet composition book, PaperMate Grip Pens 8-pk and 22″ x 28″ posterboard

Wal-Mart

5 cents: 70-sheet spiral notebook
15 cents: Twin pocket folio with prongs
22 cents: 24-pk Crayola crayons, Elmer’s 4oz glue and Elmer’s 2-pk glue sticks

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