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While I am not a big movie buff (the last movie I watched in a theater was “Cars”) I do enjoy romantic movies. Just in time for the long weekend…here are my recommendations (for what it’s worth) on some of my favorite romantic movies. What Women Want: Mel Gibson jokes aside, I think this Nancy Myer’s film is a “must see” for couples. One day when I finish writing my book on love and marriage, I will devote a specific chapter to the lessons I learned from this movie. For those who don’t know, “What Women Want” tells the story of a quintessential “man’s man” who ends up being able to listen to women’s thoughts. Just that premise alone, makes it worthwhile. Cover of The Holiday The Holiday: Another Nancy Myers film that is charming, witty and smartly written. I have to admit to being a little leery of a romantic movie with Jack Black in it (Nacho Libre anyone?), yet I was instantly hooked. Jude Law, Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslett also star in this movie that chronicles the story of 5 people who meet (quite unexpectedly) over Christmas vacation. This is a movie that Kacy and I can watch over and over again…and have! Sabrina: (the remake with Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond) I think this is a movie that never received the credit it deserved since any movie that remakes a classic film starring Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and William Holden will often be considered “blasphemy” by a segment of the population. But, I’ve always liked the movie and the story of what happens when the chauffer’s daughter gets in the way of a major merger…and the lives of two wealthy brothers. Music and Lyrics: Out of all the movies on this list, this is probably the most formulaic and predictable. However, I think this film starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore may be worth watching if only for the music video that opens the movie. “Pop! Goes My Heart”, indeed. It’s not a great film, but I have always found it enjoyable and I think would be worth watching on a Friday night. Hugh Grant is a “has-been” 80’s pop star that has been asked to write a song by one of the hottest singers in music and Drew Barrymore is the person he enlists to write the lyrics. Oh, and don’t miss the closing credits either. What are your favorite romantic movies? Until next time…thanks for reading! { 0 comments }
Hi everyone! Here is a screamin’ deal that Kacy highlighted a few weeks ago that I wanted to remind you about. We have already taken advantage of it and cannot wait to receive our book! Here is Kacy’s original post…
Holy Schmoly!!! This Deal is PHENOMENAL!!! If you are a new customer and sign-up with Picabo, you will get a FREE 20-Page Large Hardcover Photobook by using code FREEBK. As long as your book is valued at $39.99 or under, all you do is pay for shipping.
Here are the details of this deal:
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For those of you unfamiliar with Picabo, here is a brief description from their site:
I am totally impressed with this offer! Paying shipping for the type of quality this book is, well is absolutely unheard of.
Design your own photo book free at Picaboo. Get yours now with code FREEBK until 8/31.
Enjoy!
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![[077/365] Remember to Smile](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2495/3869749593_29c5a155a9_m.jpg "[077/365] Remember to Smile")
- Image by Lel4ndvia Flickr
Have you ever wondered why so many people seem so unhappy? We have all interacted with people who are just miserable and seem happiest when they are making other people’s live miserable, haven’t we? Or, perhaps you have someone in your life who is not intentionally trying to make your life miserable, but nevertheless, seems happiest when they drag you down into the deep dark pit that they are in! (Perhaps, that was a little overly dramatic?)
Yet, haven’t we all met others who it seems that no matter what life brings them, they genuinely seem happy? I remember watching a story about a man who was paralyzed, remarking that it was the best thing that happened to him because now he is living the life that he feels he was meant to live.
Geez! Sometimes I get mad when I get a hang nail (don’t judge, they hurt!), or when McDonald’s doesn’t give me my french fries without salt, like I ordered. (Try it…you get the freshest fries in the restaurant, when you order it this way. If you really want salt on them, just add it after you get it! Value Tip!)
So why do some people seem to be happy no matter what, while others are perfectly miserable no matter what? I know these are questions that have stumped philosophers for generations and have stumped people like you and me since the beginning of time. Why was Abel content and Cain jealous?
While I am not an expert, I have noticed a couple of key denominators in people who are happy:
- They like what they see in the mirror. Not in a vain or narcissistic way, but they generally like the person that they are. These are people that do not feel the need to diminish or denigrate others to feel better about themselves, because they generally feel good about themselves.
- They have a sense of purpose. Life to these people becomes more than the accumulation of stuff, or prestige or titles. They believe that their life means something and they seek to do something with their lives and to live the life they were meant to live.
- They are less self-oriented than others. We are all self-oriented to one degree or another. We can’t help it!Only you have experienced the world just as you have, so only you can see the world just the way you do. But happy people spend lives focused on others. Life is not just about “me, me, me”, to them. Yet paradoxically these people often receive the results they want by taking their eyes off of themselves once in a awhile and putting it on others.
- They take responsibility for their lives. Have you ever met someone who was just a perennial victim? Nothing is ever their fault. If they lost their job, it was because their boss didn’t train them. If they lost a friend, it was because the friend was a complete jerk. If they saw the most glorious rainbow, they would complain that it blocked their view of the clouds! I believe that happy people realize that while circumstances are not always controllable, their response to those circumstances are. I think this is why the individual in the wheelchair could honestly say that losing use of his legs was the best thing to happen to him.
If you are interested in reading more about the pursuit of happiness, I would highly recommend a book by a friend of mine named Dave Mitchell. Dave is a well-known speaker and owns a corporate training firm. It’s an easy read (I finished it over a couple of days), yet it is quite insightful and funny.
The name of the book is “Live And Learn or Die Stupid!”. If you’re interested in the book, just click on the link.
Are you a happy person? What makes and keeps you happy?
Until next time…thanks for reading!
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- Image by karenwithak via Flickr
Here’s what’s going on this week at some of the best blogs out there:
Bargain Babe has an article about how banks are making up for banished fees. There are lots of good insights that you all should know about.
Balancing Beauty & Bedlam has a great article on taking advantage of the last bits of summer with your family to create incredible memories.
Coupon Cookin illustrates how you can throw a great and frugal birthday party. She has got a lot of fun and original ideas!
Enjoy these wonderful bloggers and their wealth of knowledge!
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- Image via Wikipedia
It’s that time of year again. Car manufacturers are closing out their model years and trying to move inventory. This often means that you can get a pretty good deal on a car…but not always! Dealerships take advantage of the fact that many buyers think they are getting a good deal, simply because it’s the end of the model year.
In fact, I remember reading that in the aftermath of the U.S. auto industry basically going bankrupt, when dealers were supposedly offering fantabulous deals on cars, that the average selling price of a car did not actually go down! Many people assumed they were getting a steal, failed to do their homework and didn’t get much of a steal at all.
Here are some tips that we used when purchasing a new car a few years ago. By utilizing these strategies we were able to purchase a car from one dealer for approximately $1,500 less than another dealership was offering! That was time well-spent!
Tip #1: Do your homework! Before you even walk into a dealership and test drive a car, determine your price range, monthly budget (if financing) and know in advance the exact vehicle (trim level, options etc.) that you want to purchase. Dealers count on you “casually” walking in to the showroom just to “check things out”, test driving a car, falling in love with it and driving it home the same day. Do not…I repeat do not enter a dealership until you have done your homework.
Sites such as Edmunds.com offer great advice and provide you with pricing guidelines tailored for your geographic area so you know your target vehicle’s true value. You are able to select specific trim levels and option packages so you can really customize your research for the car you want. Once you have a vehicle’s estimated sales price, you can evaluate whether a dealer is offering you a fair price or not.
Tip #2: Use a dealership’s site to research actual vehicles on sale. Many dealerships allow you to view inventory online. What I did was find actual vehicles available, look at their specifications and then use an Internet research site (like Edmunds.com) to determine the true value of the specific car.
Tip #3: While on a dealer’s site, use the Internet sales department. Internet sales departments work a little differently from the showroom. On the showroom floor, they will try and nickel and dime you to build the margin earned on each vehicle sold. (This is why they sit you down, write those stupid numbers on a piece of paper, and then make you wait as they walk back and forth to try and “negotiate” your deal.)
Internet sales departments are often motivated by selling a high volume of cars, as opposed to maximizing the margin on each car sold. The more cars they sell, the more cars an automobile manufacturer will allocate to them. Contact and negotiate with the Internet sales department first (I would recommend through email so you have a written record of the conversation), before stepping into the dealership to test drive the car.
Tip #4: I would recommend that you either call a dealership and ask for the name and email address of the Internet sales manager, or you can simply send in an email through a dealer’s website. Here is a sample verbiage that I would use:
“I am interested in a Nissan Rogue in the SL trim in either white or gray. If possible, I would like an all-wheel drive model, with the navigation system package. I would prefer the charcoal grey interior in the sport cloth. Do you have any of these available (or something similar) and what would be the best “out the door” price that you can offer for this car?”
OR:
“I am interested in the Nissan Rogue that is advertised on your site. I believe it is Car# 123456 and it is the SL trim in grey, with the charcoal grey sport cloth interior. What would be the best “out the door” price that you can offer on this car?”
Tip#5: Once the dealer responds to you, be sure to clarify that the price you were quoted is the “out the door” price and includes all taxes and fees. Once you have this number from the dealer, compare it with the number your research indicates is the fair price for the car. (And, if a dealer does not have the exact car you want, but you like the person you’re working with, ask them if they can transfer a vehicle from another dealership. That is what the dealer did for me.)
Tip#6: If the dealer responds with the MSRP, or a price that is far above what your research tells you is fair, ditch that dealer. You will find the car you want at the price you want.
Tip#7: If the dealer responds with an evasive question, such as “what monthly payments can you afford?” and no price quote (or quotes you MSRP etc.) do not answer. I would ask the dealer again to tell you what the best “out the door” price on the car you want is and see what is said. If he comes back with an unreasonable number, ditch the dealer!
Tip #8: You should only go into the dealership for a test drive after you feel comfortable that you have been offered a fair deal. Yes…the test drive should be the last thing that you do before beginning the process of purchasing a car.
Remember, the dealer wants you to drive the car first. In a dealer’s perfect world they would answer NO questions about the car, have you drive it and then get you to fall in love with it, so that you will do whatever you can to drive it home that same day.
Tip#9: Once you’ve decided on your vehicle…review EVERYTHING before signing it. Be sure that the out the door price you were quoted is the price you are seeing on the sales contract. Ask questions if you need to…and do not finalize the deal until you feel completely comfortable.
Many of the fees are negotiable and can be eliminated. Just ask…and ask again. If you feel that all of a sudden you’ve hit a wall, be prepared to and don’t be afraid to walk away! No car is worth locking yourself into a bad deal.
Tip#10: Beware of the finance department! Once you’ve signed the sales documents, you have one more hurdle to jump through…the finance department. Car dealers make a lot of money on the back end, when your guard may be down. Most of the things they offer are not worth it and represent pure profit to the dealer. Proceed with caution and outweigh the costs and benefits before agreeing to anything.
Happy car buying! And I would love to hear if these tips worked for you!
Until next time~thanks for reading!
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Hi everyone! Here is a screamin’ deal that Kacy highlighted a few weeks ago that I wanted to remind you about. We have already taken advantage of it and cannot wait to receive our book! Here is Kacy’s original post…
Holy Schmoly!!! This Deal is PHENOMENAL!!! If you are a new customer and sign-up with Picabo, you will get a FREE 20-Page Large Hardcover Photobook by using code FREEBK. As long as your book is valued at $39.99 or under, all you do is pay for shipping.
Here are the details of this deal:
|
For those of you unfamiliar with Picabo, here is a brief description from their site:
I am totally impressed with this offer! Paying shipping for the type of quality this book is, well is absolutely unheard of.
Design your own photo book free at Picaboo. Get yours now with code FREEBK until 8/31.
Enjoy!
{ 0 comments }
- Image via Wikipedia
Hi everyone!
My name is Rommel and I am Kacy’s husband. I am very excited to be able to usher in a new day in the Valuing Today community. I know that Kacy’s decision to step away was a difficult one for her to make. She really put her heart and soul into this site and genuinely appreciated her interactions with all of you.
This is one of the reasons that we decided together that I would “try my hand” at keeping this online community going. While Kacy’s decision to not be involved actively in the daily process of the blog is the right one for her and our family; we both felt strongly in the mission and purpose of Valuing Today.
So what can you expect? As Kacy mentioned, my goal is to post items on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The focus of the site will shift a little from primarily focusing on “deals” towards original content, stories, commentary, and personal observations. But, if we find a great deal, or some great things to recommend, I’ll be sure to let you know!
You’ll also notice an emphasis on interpersonal relationships in many of the posts. One of my great passions is helping people enhance and improve their relationships. I have studied the dynamics of relationships for many years and am excited to pass on what I’ve learned.
I recently started my own training and consulting firm called The Relationship Difference to help people improve and enhance their relationships on a corporate, organizational and professional level. (I am available to do keynote speaking, workshops, seminars etc. If this sounds like a shameless plug…it is. My family thanks you in advance.)
I hope to do the same for personal relationships through Valuing Today.
READER PARTICIPATION REQUESTED: This is where I ask you for your help. Please feel free to email me your relationship (love, friend and family) questions and I will try my best to answer them in future posts.
In keeping with the original intent and purpose of Valuing Today, I will also try and help you find and cultivate the value that is inherent in all of us. I genuinely believe that you are truly special and that you were created for an incredible purpose in your life. I hope to help you, in whatever way I can, live the life that you were created to live.
Lastly~these are lofty goals I know…so I ask that you lower your expectations as much as you can! I find that I work best and you’ll find me infinitely more interesting if you have no or low expectations. 
Until next time…thanks for reading!
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- Image by Stuck in Customsvia Flickr
Hi Friends,
Today, I have an ANNOUNCEMENT! (Watch out!)
Valuing Today as you know it will be taking a new direction.
First off, I will be stepping away from most involvement in Valuing Today.
It has become abundantly clear that I am not able to tend to my health challenges and family in the way they deserve due to my involvement in Valuing Today. It saddens me to let go of this wonderful thing we’ve got going on, but I know it is in the best interest of me and my family.
Please know that I have been enormously blessed by your support and encouragement since the inception of Valuing Today. All of the relationships I have built through this site have been truly amazing.
The new direction: My wonderful husband will be stepping in to steer this beautiful ship!
He is transforming Valuing Today into a site chalk full of original articles ranging from how to save money, to relationship stories, to family life and parenting and everything else in between. He plans to post Tuesday and Thursday of every week.
We hope that you come along with us on this new journey to balance our lives with our hopes and desires of keeping Valuing Today going!
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- Image by karenwithak via Flickr
Ah, my lovely blogger friends are at it again with some great new posts this week.
Nikki at Coupon Cookin’ has some really awesome tips on how you can save money by reducing waste.
Julia at Bargain Babe has the latest fashion trends for Back to School 2010!
I hope you are benefiting from their articles as much as I am!
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This Sunday there looks to be one coupon insert, but it packs a nice punch. Check out the Sunday Coupon Preview to see if it is worth for you to buy extra newspapers.
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