Wow!  Now here’s a good tip of the day!

Walmart has a section on their website where you can get Free Samples!

You read right!  You can get Free Samples of products ~ everything from Baby Products, Health Products, Home Goods & More!  You can get Huggies diapers, Playtex tampons, Towelettes, Fiber Supplements, Food items!

Every young family and even Baby Boomers such as myself can use a little something extra to help out with the finances!

Looks like I’ll be spending a lot of time on this site!

If you know of any others, let me know too!

How to Get Free Samples from Walmart ~ Tip of the Day! is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

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1. Enter Your Fresh Salsa Recipes in the Salsa Sensations “What’s Your Craving Contest” for a chance to Win a $1,000 Walmart Gift Card
2. PC Maintenance Options: Free Antivirus Protection versus Paid Subscription
3. Information For Bloggers: PLR vs. Free Reprint Articles: Which is Best?

Depression Bread Lines

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’.

Bob Dylan

I’m probably hot-flashing again, dear readers, as I’m getting into one of my moods where I feel I must speak up. I’m posting this on my Musings Blog, rather than my “fun” Mama Mentor Blog, because ~~ this is not a fun topic.

Part I

I belong to several social networking forums. One in particular, a Mom forum, has been heavily debating the State of the Union and the economy, and whether anyone thinks it’s affecting their WAHM business. As the posts are moderated ~ well, you can understand that many do not get through. Personally, I’m getting a little tired of that forum. Thank goodness I blog, so I can expound and get on my high horse.

Many of the Mom members are young. I have nothing against being young ~ I was there myself once long ago.

But I cannot agree with their comments that the economy is rosy, things are great, and that the media is just making things out to look badly. Forum comments reflect the position that the economy is only bad to those whom are personally affected by it. Yes, and no. There’s a maxim that the “personal becomes the political.” I can agree with that.

However, I just didn’t fall off the apple cart. I’m a Baby Boomer and I’ve been married for 34 years, and have obviously lived through the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Never have I seen things looking so bad for this country.

As many of you know, I live in New England. I filled up my car today. I’d been riding on fumes, and have an American made car. We don’t wear the US flag on our sleeves, but DH insists we do buy American when we can. It cost me $64 to fill up today. I’m saving that gas receipt, just for ha ha’s. I used to have a 2002 Malibu that we bought new. In 2002, it cost me $12 to fill, which I thought was great, since it replaced the 1995 Windstar mini-van that I had.

Methinks that the young moms are looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. Just because you’re perhaps not personally affected, doesn’t mean the rest of the country isn’t. We’re what I consider, or used to consider middle class. I’m a college grad. I have a DD who’s a college grad, and another who’ll graduate in May 2009. My DH spent time at Marquette University in Milwaukee, and now owns his own business.

I read over 20 national newspapers a day because of my cubicle job. One of my favorite columnists is Debbie Solomon from the Burlington Free Press in Vermont. Her recent post sums up my feelings better than I can express them. Read it here. I hope this link continues to work.

Kiddos, things are going to get much worse before they get better. Hold on to your hats, you’re in for a ride.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of my rantings and ravings on this subject. Comments appreciated.

How to Get Free Samples from Walmart ~ Tip of the Day! is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. Enter Your Fresh Salsa Recipes in the Salsa Sensations “What’s Your Craving Contest” for a chance to Win a $1,000 Walmart Gift Card
2. PC Maintenance Options: Free Antivirus Protection versus Paid Subscription
3. Information For Bloggers: PLR vs. Free Reprint Articles: Which is Best?

If you find yourself stressed, overextended in mountains of debt and seeking credit card debt relief, guides and advocate credit assistance is available. Services are offered for credit counseling, bankruptcy options, debt settlement and debt consolidation.

Rather than face financial hardship, see if you are eligible for these services.

How to Get Free Samples from Walmart ~ Tip of the Day! is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. Enter Your Fresh Salsa Recipes in the Salsa Sensations “What’s Your Craving Contest” for a chance to Win a $1,000 Walmart Gift Card
2. PC Maintenance Options: Free Antivirus Protection versus Paid Subscription
3. Information For Bloggers: PLR vs. Free Reprint Articles: Which is Best?

The beat goes on, the beat goes on

 Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain 

La de da de dee, la de da de da

Sonny and Cher

You know, being a Baby Boomer has its advantages.  I’m so happy the Internet evolved.  It’s the perfect platform for Boomers to continue to protest and grandstand.  As I came of age in the early ’70s, I was in college during the Peace Rallies, Love-Ins and Protest Demonstrations.  So hang on to your Jimmy Choo’s, now that I have a Blog, I can fulfill my inner New England Curmudgeon, feminist, bra-burning, march-to-the-tune-of-a-different-drummer beat.  “And the Beat Goes On…”

So goes the continuing saga of my experiences as an Affiliate Rep.  I’m beginning to question whether this is something I really want to be associated with.  The products are great, but the methods and tactics some of you WAHMs use to promote and peddle your wares are definitely questionable.

Come’ on ladies, if you’re a WAHM signed up to be an Affiliate Marketer, you a) either have young kids or b) have grown kids.  Don’t you read the news, Blogs, whatever?  - there’s a whole generation of kids being raised  with a bad case of the “gimmies”  who think they should be living a life of entitlement and instant self-gratification.   I posted about this awhile ago during the holiday shopping season here.

This is an actual portion of a post from a WAHM (I’m led to believe) that appeared within the last day or so  on a Yahoo Group Affiliate Membership forum that I belong to:

….I don’t have any teen girls, How is the best way to find them with out seeming like the creeping lady on the corner outside of school? Most of my friends have small kids, (under 10) Thanks for any help.

This person was trying to infiltrate the ‘tween set to peddle products that might be of interest to ‘tweens.

And here was my posted response:

Hi ~

There are many charitable organizations out and around that are really looking for volunteers to help with teen mentoring  programs or the disadvantaged.

I would suggest checking with your local social services agencies, church groups, school PTA’s, after school programs, YWCAs and the like.  I’m sure they’d be more than happy to assign you to work with and get to know some teens!

Sarcasm intended.  Get real.  Now I’m a mom of 2 grown daughters.  One’s a college grad ~ the other’s finishing her Junior year in college.  Ever hear about the credit card offers that come in daily targeting these kids?  Ever wonder why they’re graduating with a mountain of credit card debt (mine did Not and are Not) and student loans before they even get a chance to cash their first post-college paycheck?

Are you WAHMs that desperate that you have to go after the middle school set to push your products?  Shame on you.

While I believe in many of the products I offer, I’d like to think I’m not desperate.  If you click on my banners and like the products enough to make a purchase, fine.  But you won’t find me trying to be a pusher and sell to kids who should instead be learning about money-management.  They get enough of that in ‘tween magazines, radio, TV and peer pressure.

Anyone out there have a conscience?

How to Get Free Samples from Walmart ~ Tip of the Day! is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. Enter Your Fresh Salsa Recipes in the Salsa Sensations “What’s Your Craving Contest” for a chance to Win a $1,000 Walmart Gift Card
2. PC Maintenance Options: Free Antivirus Protection versus Paid Subscription
3. Information For Bloggers: PLR vs. Free Reprint Articles: Which is Best?

Recently I joined Entrecard and am enjoying many of the blogs that I “drop” in on!

In my “spare” time, I find myself reading delightful entries from various categories on Family & Parenting,  eBay, SAHMs, WAHMs, Finances, Photography, Cooking, Baby Boomer issues, and some interesting personal blogs.

One of the blogs I came across discussed how to increase your traffic and get 300 Entrecard “Drops” a day!  Hopefully I’ll be able to pull up my rankings!

Here’s a list of my recent Advertisers that I’d like to thank:

Absolutely Moms
Just 4 Families
My Life As Mama Jodi
Tara’s View of the World
Karla’s Crazy Life
Waterrosez
According to Nessa
Mom of Two Under 18
Maria Finds
A Simple Life
Lizzy T Designs

Please take a moment to visit them if you missed them the first time around!

How to Get Free Samples from Walmart ~ Tip of the Day! is a post from: Moomettes Magnificents

Related posts:

1. Enter Your Fresh Salsa Recipes in the Salsa Sensations “What’s Your Craving Contest” for a chance to Win a $1,000 Walmart Gift Card
2. PC Maintenance Options: Free Antivirus Protection versus Paid Subscription
3. Information For Bloggers: PLR vs. Free Reprint Articles: Which is Best?