Dream of Add to Cart or Buy Now Buttons

It was time for me to bite the bullet. I had to add payment buttons to both of my web sites (Miller's Wrapped Expression and Clip Art by Miller) because it simply wouldn't do for prospects to click "Contact" to order something. So began my search and research for payment buttons.

I initially tried adding buttons from Google gadgets. This was total ignorance on my part because where would the money go? There was no account set up. After a couple of weeks pondering options (realizing - of course - that I am no web master and don't know HTML from any other coding therefore scared to death of screwing up something), it suddenly dawned on me that I have a Paypal account. Duh.

I started with "Buy Now". The Paypal instructions said to create a description, type in pricing, click the "get code" button, copy and paste the coding into the HTML code of my web page. Easy enough. Instead of typing out a description for each candy bar, I simply clicked on the sample candy wrapper picture, clicked "properties" and copied the description. Not the entire picture link but the simple description like "lion_crouching". Then I headed back to the open Paypal window and pasted in the description and copied the coding for the candy wrapper.

After returning to Miller's Wrapped Expression open window, I clicked where I wanted to put the link and opened the HTML window. I scanned the coding for the description of the sample picture but couldn't find it. So I opened "Find on this page", typed in "lion" and hit the "find" button. Voila! There it was. I pasted the coding from Paypal beneath the picture name and clicked "preview". Ah, I did it correctly.

I did several before I realized I needed "Add to Cart" and assorted sizes rather than "Buy Now". No problem. I just went back, deleted all the "Buy Now" buttons from my web page and Paypal, and created new buttons after adding three different sizes of candy wrappers along with prices.

It wasn't easy but I managed to do it with little knowledge and a little reading.

Get a Cable Modem Free

Okay, so the title is a little bit misleading but I no longer pay rent on the cable modem supplied by my cable company.

How did I manage that? For the umpteenth time I got pissed off about paying monthly rent on the gosh-darn modem. I had been meaning to call the cable company but for an entire year I either put it off or forgot about it completely. Yesterday, I had had enough. After berating myself yet again for not having taken care of it a year ago, I finally hopped on my cell phone and called the cable company.

After going through their security checks ("Last four of your Social Security?", "Address?", "Are you Deborah Miller?"), the young lady finally asked what she could do for me.

"I've been one of your customers for two or three years. I was thinking of going out and purchasing a cable modem but I thought I'd give you a call first. I think you should give the one I've been renting and have probably paid for a couple of times to me."

"Yes. Uh-huh. Right. Can you hold for a moment while I ask my supervisor?" the young lady asked.

"Sure," I said though my reply went unheard as she was a quick little belle and had me on hold before I knew it.

"Thank you for holding. Yes, Mrs. Miller, we will take that charge off your bill but we will not give you credit for the difference for the rent you've paid versus the cost of the modem," the young lady said.

"No credit? I think I should at least get a twenty dollar bill," I replied.

Laughing, the young lady said, "I'm sorry. We can't do that."

"Then a free month's worth of cable."

Again the young lady laughed. She obviously didn't know I was serious.

"No, no. Is there anything else I can help you with today?"

"Nope," I responded.

"You have a good day then."

"Thank you."

And that is how I got a free modem.

Dream of Being Poor

Or: Shop Like You're Poor

I was in a situation a few years back in which I was in need of new eye glasses as I wasn't seeing very well out of the ones I had purchased many years ago. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford the eye exam along with the cost of the new glasses. The eye exam is a minimum of one hundred dollars and the glasses - well, glasses will cost in the hundreds of dollars. Further, I wasn't dreaming I was poor. I really was poor. Like many others, I had lost my job. To further enhance the situation, my mother needed my help so I moved back home. I searched for a job here in town but nobody wanted to hire a middle aged woman with years of publishing and management experience.

With no well paying job in sight, I had to get creative in finding new eye glasses so I could see. Thus began my search on the Internet for a decent pair of cheap glasses. It took weeks of looking through pages of URLs before I found a company that sells really inexpensive eye glasses.

Zenni Optical is where I finally landed. I could hardly believe my eyes. Glasses for twelve dollars? You're kidding me, right? Nope, not in the least. This discovery took me on another search but this one was to find ratings from others who had used Zenni Optical. I could find no major complaints about the company. Oh, there were the usual complaints about slow delivery here and there but every rating I read said the same thing. All who had purchased from Zenni Optical were satisfied with their purchase.

I also looked up the company on Dun and Bradstreet. I knew if I found it listed there it would be a legitimate company. I didn't think about looking up the company in the Better Business Bureau website which was sort of a stupid move on my part. My guess is if I looked them up today, I wouldn't find any - or very few - complaints.

Something more nagged at me, though. I came to realize this company fulfilled orders through a company outside of the United States. After further research, I realized a Chinese company was fulfilling special orders and would fulfill mine as I requested no-line trifocals. I have nothing against the Chinese. I have never been to China. I don't particularly like their politics but what bothered me the most was I was going to have to go outside of my own country to get a new pair of eye glasses. It's apparent to me that Zenni is somehow connected to China. I presume they're a branch of a company there. I will say I don't know for certain. It just seems logical to me.

However, this knowledge didn't stop me. I needed new glasses and I had no alternative but to go through with the purchase. I did and my twelve dollar glasses have served my sight well. The ear pieces are titanium, and won't and don't loose their shape. The lenses are scratch resistant and the entire package is light weight. They aren't heavy so don't hurt my nose.

I started this evening's blog to encourage people to shop like they're poverty stricken; to learn to scrimp and save at every turn but it seems I have come up with another subject or two. But I won't go into either this evening. Instead, I'll end this with the thought with which I originally began.

Dream of being poor and shop like you are. It is amazing how much money you will save. We did and managed to pay for two cataract surgeries.

Dreams: Saving Money on Canned Dog Food

My seventy-eight year old dad loves spoiling his schipperke (pronounced "Skipper-key"), Cinder. I cringe whenever I see him open a can of expensive dog food. It's not because he cuts the dog food up into small bite size pieces then feeds her each little portion from a plastic knife because that's the only way she'll eat it. I cringe because he spends a fortune on brand name canned dog food.

But I bite my tongue. I don't tell him to save his money and not buy the stuff; that he could actually provide her meat from his own kitchen table. No, I don't advocate giving dogs leftovers from the table. What I do advocate is reserving meat that you have cooked for your canine.

And that is just what my husband does. He does all the cooking around here (shopping, too). Whatever meat he prepares, he always reserves a certain amount for Tsaile (pronounced "Say-lee"), our Rhodesian Ridgeback. Whether it's chicken, ribs, roast, pork chops or steak, we always have a small plastic bag of meat set off to the side in the refrigerator. Every morning and every night, we put a bit of meat on top of Tsaile's dry dog food.

I know for a fact that she would eat her dry dog food without that bit of meat on top of it because we have run out of the reserve and had no choice but to give her only her dog food with a bit of warm water mixed into it. I also know she would eat her dry food with cooked rice, carrots or potatoes.

We don't scrape leftovers into her food bowl but we will keep a small amount from our plates occasionally to add to her food.

She isn't over-weight because we're very conscious of what we feed her. And, we're not spending a fortune on canned food or doggie treats. Yet, I can tell you she is very spoiled.

Conclusion: If you're looking for something to cut from the budget, consider substituting something for the expensive treats or food you serve your pet.

P.S. My ferret, Ponc, gets off-brand raisins instead of the five dollar packages of ferret treats.

How I Saved Money on Postage This Christmas

How many of you have compared flat rate Priority versus Parcel Post pricing? I made the mistake of not doing comparisons last year and ended up spending more than I needed to spend when I mailed Christmas presents.

This year was different. Instead of assuming United Postal Service's flat rate boxes (if it fits, it ships) would be the cheapest way to mail Christmas presents, I navigated to USPS.com to do a little research. The URLs are located at the bottom of this blog.

I clicked on Parcel Post, located the zone table and typed in the first three digits of the zip code for the address furthest from me. Based on the weight of the package going to that zone, I was going to save close to three dollars for the one package as compared to mailing using a flat rate box. With that information in hand, there was no doubt I would save on the remaining packages as all of them were basically the same weight.

In all, I saved close to thirty dollars mailing nine packages Parcel Post. So, unless you are sending a personalized brick that can fit into a medium sized flat rate box, save your money by packing in a box you have laying around and send it Parcel Post.

http://www.usps.com/prices/priority-mail-prices.htm

http://www.usps.com/prices/parcel-post-prices.htm

Another Way to Earn Extra Income

I have a little artistic talent; can paint poinsettias, snowmen, winter and summer country mountain or forest scenes and the like on canvas, paper, wine bottles or glasses. After painting a Christmas scene on one of the windows in our house I decided I would see if there was anyone interested in having their own home window painted with a Christmas scene for a small fee. Sure enough, after advertising on a website that offers free posting, a lady replied; emailed that she had two windows she wanted painted with Christmas scenes.

This goes to show that if you have a talent for something, chances are at least one other person will need or want your services.

Here are some ideas to earn extra income or for barter:
Flower arrangements
Bouquets and candy bouquets
Party planning
Snow shoveling
Organizing closets, garages, cabinets
House cleaning
Cut hair
Style hair
Rake leaves
Clean car interiors
Run errands
Grocery shop

And pass the word around to all of your friends. Tell them you are willing to apply your talent or knack for a small fee. Be sure to advertise on websites that allow posts for no cost and post on your favorite social network website.

I did a search for sites like craigslist and found several responses. I plan on checking them out to see what will best serve me. And, I never charge a lot for my services. I research costs then under bid by several dollars. Doing so ensures I will get a customer at least ninety percent of the time.

Daddy Shot Santa... Written by my brother, David Graham

Daddy Shot Santa

Twas the night before Christmas and all ‘cross the farm

The critters had settled with no cause for alarm.

Our stockings we hung on our bedroom doorknobs

In hopes that Santa would bring trinkets and bobs.


The tree, just put up, seemed slender and slight,

But shined of great promise with each Christmas tree light.

The cookies and milk we displayed quite exquisite

As Mama read soft tones of Santa’s famed visit.


The hour grew late and our bedtime grew nigh,

Our excitement did brim as the minutes dragged by.

Mama’s chores done, her children bathed and fed,

Did herd us like cats to each waiting bed.


We filed up the stairs wishing Daddy Christmas goodnight,

But his whispered response gave us considerable fright.

“That old man better not come, I told him last year,

I told him ‘Stay away,’ he’s not welcome here.


“I called him a thief, a scoundrel, a dastard.

If he comes ‘round here I’ll shoot the ol’ bastard.”

Our lips did quiver; our sobs we did stifle.

For it was much too late to hide father’s old rifle.


Calm and composed, Mother tucked us with care

And wished us sleep tight with a kiss and a prayer.

Her soft steps betrayed by the squeak of each stair

“Stay in bed, be quiet, don’t make me come up there.”


Her warning we heeded for a minute or two,

‘Til silent night broke, “What shall we do?”

“Will Daddy shoot Santa,” the sister did dread.

The youngest chimed in, “I don’t want Santa dead.”

- Hide quoted text -


Entranced I gazed through frosted glass pane,

I puzzled and pondered and contorted my brain.

This couldn’t be true; it wasn’t quite right.

You can’t shoot Santa on Christmas Eve night.


Like the blaze of a star streaking a moonless sky

I realized in a moment there was no reason to cry.

“Don’t give it a worry, there’s no cause to whimper.

It’s only a joke,” I said with a simper.


With sighs of relief our fears were allayed,

We nestled warm blankets, no longer afraid.

When outside such racket atop our own roof.

Were those pebbles on shingles or each prancing hoof?


We moved not a muscle, our breath quite bated,

We strained to hear more and nervously waited.

Father’s heavy steps, a slamming screen door,

Shouted harsh words, “Yer not welcome no more.”


“I told you last year, stay off’n my place.

Yer a cheat, a liar, a louse-bound disgrace.

I got ol’ Betsy an’ a bad trigger twitch.

I’ll shoot yer ass now, ya ol’ som-bitch.”


What happened next I’m loathe to tell,

But Daddy shot twice, and began to yell.

“I shot the ol’ man,” our father did hoot.

“I winged the ol’ bastard; I got the ol’ coot.”


A shocked icy silence befell the homestead.

Had Daddy shot Santa; had he filled him with lead?

Not a word was spoken, not even a peep

As each child slipped into a worried, fitful sleep.


No visions of candy canes, no hopes of that toy.

We’d all grow up in a world without joy.

In morning we gathered scrubbing sleep from our eyes,

To venture downstairs to witness Santa’s demise.


But what to our weary eyes did we see?

A pile of wrapped presents under the tree.

And off in the corner sat Daddy quite smug.

He dismissed our new bounty with a wink and a shrug.


“For a fat old elf, he’s nimble and quick.

You gotta be sharp to get ol’ St. Nick.

I fired twice; he sure lit outta here,

Cursin’ and whippin’ each tiny reindeer.


“In his hurry from off his back

Fell all these gifts out of his pack.

So, merry Christmas, be of good cheer.

I’ll try it again this time next year.”

Copyright 2010 David Graham