I was reading an article on Businessweek’s website that was talking about how a lot of the big “snob” companies like Sak’s Fifth avenue is opening more outlet stores, in the hopes that they will attract more customers to the outlet store’s lower prices.  The article confused me a little bit because I had read many years ago that “outlet stores” were not necessarily a “discount store” and that when people shop at outlet stores looking for a “bargain” they usually are not really getting a “bargain.”  What they are often getting are closeouts, over-runs, or factory seconds.

After I had learned that “outlet stores” were really not “discount” stores I pretty much avoided them.  So now I’m wondering if “outlet” stores are changing their strategy and really ARE offering bargains now!

When we bought my Lumina I told my hubby that one of the first things I wanted to buy for it was a quality sun shield for the windshield.  I bought a “universal” sun shield at my local big box discount department store but it does not fit well and keeps falling down.  But this week I finally smartened up and realized that I can not just put my visors down to help keep it in place, but I can take them out of their little holder brackets and put them down at an angle, and that works perfectly!

I remember reading last year that there is a maple syrup shortage from Canada that is effecting the price of food.  I did not realize that Canada makes 80% of the world’s maple syrup!  Many consumers have been switching to maple syrup as a sweetener in their baking products so the demand for maple syrup has been increasing.  Canada had a mild spring this year, which lowered their maple syrup production.  New England, however, had a banner year and had lots of maple syrup.

As I was reading this story I found myself wondering why it took so long for this story about Canada having a mild spring (effecting the maple syrup supply) to enter the news media – their spring was six months ago for crying out loud!

And I was surprised to learn that so much syrup came from Canada because when I buy maple syrup at the store it always says it was from a New England state!

I wonder how the supply is this year!

With the economy the way it is today, I want to make absolutely sure that I am getting the best value for my hard earned dollar when I have to spend it.  This applies to every aspect of my daily life, from groceries, to clothes and shoes, laundry supplies, to home improvement, and even to work on my car.  That means that I am spending the extra time to research the credentials of everyone and everything that I possibly can.  Was it Ben Franklin who said “A penny saved is a penny earned”?  Well, I’m not earning enough pennies, that is for sure, so I need to save all those I can get my hands on!

My brothers and sisters want to pitch in and buy a nice gift for my parents. We are thinking that a game console would be a nice gift that the entire family could enjoy. So we are debating whether we should get a Wii or a Playstation 3? Which would be most suitable for a entire, large family with a variety of ages from 4 to 72?