Last week, I tried to come up with a clever name for my new Monday series about money. I’d like to thank An Open Book for the suggestion to stop being hung up on the alliteration idea and jodimichelle for the name “Budget Boosters”. It totally works.
Sarah’s Deals has some great bargains this week (along with about a bajillion giveaways on her Blogiversary Bash). Here are some highlights:
Meijer
Smart Balance 1/2 Gallon Carton $1.99 use $2/1 coupon from 7/11Red Plum insert = FREE! There is also a $1/1 SQ on Meijer Mealbox, but not all stores will allow the overage.
Ragu $1.49 use $.75/2 coupon from 8/1 Red Plum insert and $1/2 coupon from Meijer Mealbox = 2/$1.23!
Welch’s Grape 32oz 3/$5 buy 3 and use 3 $.55/1 coupon from 8/1 Smart Source AND use $1/3 coupon from Meijer Mealbox = 3/$2.35!
Aldi
Gallon of milk for $1.59.
Family Fare
Coffee-Mate 16oz 10/$10 use $.75/1 Coffee-Mate Printable Coupon = $.25 each!
As far as making money, this week, I have an idea some of you think is gruesome. It took three different people telling me how easy and lucrative it is for me to give it a go. Several years ago, I broke down, and headed off to BioLife, which is one of those plasma selling places. It’s hard not to hang my head a little when I admit that. Shouldn’t I be donating blood, instead of selling plasma?
Except every time I try to donate blood, they say, “Oh, you little waif of a thing! You don’t weigh enough to donate!” . OK that actually happened once, and I was in high school, and they didn’t call me a waif, because I was only one pound under. It was after Pom Pon practice, and I was probably just dehydrated.
No; waif-ness is not the problem anymore. It’s teeny, tiny, roly, poly veins. Getting blood drawn for me is a nightmare. Getting an IV is more difficult than whatever procedure follows (with the exclusion of birthing babies). I beg for pediatric needles and occasionally, run across a kind and resourceful phlebotomist who obliges me. I wish I could tip them.
Yet I tried to sell my plasma. At the time, they were paying $25 every time you went. They did a really thorough physical, and the place is very clean and clinical-looking. Some of the donaters were a little scratchy, but most of them were fine. There is a little daycare room, and they watch your kids for you. It takes most people about 45 minutes. It took me two hours. I went through two phlebotomists and a nurse. I bled all over the floor and freaked out the other people with normal veins.
They gently asked me not to come back. That was not necessary, on account of it sucked.
However... I mentioned that three people told me they didn’t have any problems whatsoever with it, which is why I am mentioning it. They make several thousand dollars a year, and they donate blood, and their arms don’t look like those of an addict. It didn’t work for me – but it does work for some.
Thank you so much for your sweet comment on my blog today! The encouragment I received was overwhelming – WOW! Thank you so much…and have a great week!
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I used to donate there as well. I had to stop because my veins just decided to not cooperate anymore. My husband did it for a long time with no problems at all. He stopped recently because they aren’t paying as much, it just wasn’t worth his time anymore. Still, I wouldn’t discourage anyone from trying. It’s a pretty easy way to make some money as long as you’re not squeamish!
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