Cats And Coupons

If you’re like many people, you have a digital camera. You take pictures of your family, your pets, whatever strikes you. One of the most overlooked camera accessories is the storage, the removable media. It’s hard to take a picture when you have nowhere to store it. The price of an SD card, as well as other forms of memory,has come down a lot in recent years. Media gets full, and occasionally has been known to have a problem. The answer? Have a backup, allowing you to make sure you have the opportunity to get that great shot of your child. Or your cat.

We could use a new set of outdoor furniture but they can be pretty expensive unless you catch them on sale. I usually see sets on sale twice a year, sometime in April and sometime in September. The best trick I’ve learned to getting something like this is to decide what I want and may be willing to settle for. Then I save up however much I’m willing to spend on it and put it away until I find what I’m looking for at that price. The last set we bought was a wicker set. We bought it in about 1996 or so from a store named Rickel’s, when it was going out of business. It was a loveseat and two chairs and cost us under $100.

When winter arrives, as it has here in the Northeast, the outdoors can be a dangerous place for pets. Whenever possible allow your pets indoors during the cold. If you have an outdoor pet that absolutely cannot be allowed indoors, consider these five tips.

• If you have a pet that cannot come inside make sure it has access to a safe, sturdy, dry shelter.
• Rather than sleep on the ground, provide either a raised bed or straw to lay on.
• Remember the television show where the little boy stuck his tongue on a lamp post in the winter and it got stuck? The same thing could happen with your pet’s bowls if they’re made of metal. Use a bowl that can withstand the cold and elements.
• Remember not to leave winter chemicals out where pets can get into them, such as antifreeze and ice melting products. Don’t walk your pet where you’ve used ice melting products.
• If your pets are in the garage do not run the car while they are inside in order to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

You are responsible for providing the best care possible to your pet, even if it is an outdoor one. After all, they can’t just plug in an electric blanket like a person inside can.

The holidays are a hectic time, full of different items, people and sounds. Make sure your home is as safe as is possible for your cat.

• Every cat we’ve ever had has been fascinated by the Christmas tree. If your cat is interested in the Christmas tree make sure your tree remains in place with a weighted stand or by tying it to something on a nearby wall.
• Place breakable ornaments out of your cat’s reach. Do not
• Do not allow electric cords to become an attractive nuisance.
• Do not leave candles unattended.
• As written previously, some holiday plants are poisonous to pets. Be sure plants are out of your pet’s reach.
• Put your pet in another room if there’s a lot of company. It’s less stressful for your pet and they’ll remain safely inside the house.
• Place bones from cooking in a sealed bag and dispose of them outside.

One of the ways you can save money this holiday season, or year round, is by checking competitors rates before you ship. I ship most of my boxes using the US Postal Service. I love Priority Mail, it’s affordable and trackable. I love their flat rate boxes, which allow you to stuff as much as possible into one box and it costs one price. For bigger boxes the USPS. Fed Ex and UPS are usually rather competitive. If you like to ship Fed Ex, consider getting an account with them. Fed Ex offers discounts to account holders, I got an email yesterday that my rate as an account holder is 8% lower than their regular rate. No matter which carrier you’re shipping with, be sure to pack it in the correct size box to lessen the amount of packaging and cost of shipping. For UPS and Fed Ex drop your packages off to the station yourself if possible, to avoid pickup costs.

Not all health plans are created equal. When I was young I thought that health insurance was health insurance. Now that I work in the industry I know better.You should be familiar with the details of your coverage before you need to use it. If you’re not sure what’s covered call the insurance company and ask. For any type of testing be sure you know beforehand if you need a precertification, preauthorization or reference number. Before visiting a specialist be sure you know if you need a referral. And always take down the name (and extension if possible) of the representative you spoke with. Knowing your insurance coverage can save you a lot of time and money.

Thanksgiving is less than a month away. It’s the beginning of the holiday season. People visit each other more, increasing traffic in the home. Here are some tips for pet owners.

• Don’t give your pets bones such as turkey bones. They splinter and can harm your pet.
• Some people might not notice a small pet near their feet when they’re entering or leaving your house. Be sure your pet is put safely away somewhere in the house if your door is going to be open for a long period of time or frequently.
• Do not allow your pet to get in the habit of drinking from glasses, particularly alcohol.
• If you’re going to be out for a long day make sure your dog has someone to exercise him while you’re out.
• Do not allow your pet to eat candy, especially chocolate. Candy, especially chocolate, is dangerous to pets and potentially fatal. Make sure it is stored out of reach from your pets, as you would be sure to store ephedra diet pills away from children.

Dogs love to play with toys. Not all toyson the market are created equally, so be careful what you buy. Here are some tips on safe dog toys.

• When buying a new toy consider what it’s made of. Some toys contain materials or small pieces that should not be ingested.
• Choose the right size toy for your dog. Large dogs could swallow toys made for a much smaller dog.
• Don’t give your dog people toys, they’re made of different materials and have more parts and would be dangerous for the dog.
• Throw out toys that become worn or broken, before they fall apart and your dog swallows pieces.
• Speak to your vet about the difference between rawhide and other edible treats. Some vets feel rawhide isn’t safe when swallowed.

If you’ve ever had to buy any home medical equipment you know how expensive it can be. Often people find themselves trying to help family or friends get the equipment that they need if an unexpected medical situation arises. Before buying items such as walkers, shower stools, benches, beds and wheelchairs, ask around. You never know what someone else might have that they no longer have a use for. I was inspired to write this after witnessing two women at my work having a casual conversation. One woman mentioned her elderly Mom was very sick and that she had to go out looking for equipment. The other woman said “Wow, I have that, that and that from someone in my family, do you want it?”. And just like that, part of a problem was solved and some money was saved.

Luggage can be really expensive. I have this theory to share that I believe not only can save money upon purchasing of new luggage but in lowering your chances of having your bag taken by accident or stolen. Here it is.

Find a store that carries luggage that offers a clearance or markdown section. Look for clearance priced or mark downs on luggage, that’s the first way you can save some money. Look for either unique looking luggage or luggage that isn’t terribly attractive or elegant. that is on the unique side. When you find it, if it fits your size needs, buy it. Here’s why. If it’s unique enough, it will be hard for someone else to accidentally confuse it with their own bag. Look at the luggage carousel, it’s full of black and brown bags. I bet you’d notice a pastel blue print case getting picked up. If a bag is ugly enough noone will steal it because they won’t want it. After all, all luggage is for is for carrying and protecting our belongings while we’re traveling. It doesn’t have to look great. If my theory is correct, less luggage will be stolen and less luggage will be taken because it was confused with a similar looking piece, which means you’re saving money by not replacing luggage and belongings.

Let me know what you think of my theory.