More Money Thinking

Cutter's Log - Supplemental

One night on an errand run, I simply made the shorter trip to Kmart rather than Wal-Mart. All it was for was Raid. I was coerced into signing up for the Rewards program. "It's free." At the spur of the moment, I decided what the heck.

Kmart's program in a nutshell: Earn 10 points for each $1 spent, 1,000 points earned is $1 toward a purchase (if desired).

As with the case with such store cards, I think to myself am I really going to use this? Should I switch from Wal-Mart to Kmart because of this card? To find out, I had to do a little price comparing with the things I usually get.

Water - I bought a case of 35 20oz. bottles at WM for $3.50. At K the special offer is 2-for-$7. I'm not even halfway through my current case of water, having bought it two weeks ago. Buying an extra case doesn't take up all that much space in my room, but it is an extra $3.50 on the shopping trip. I think the two-for deal is worth it, if it is still on special. Also meaning 70 rewards points.

Clothes/shoes - I have found that K has more clothes that fit me than WM does, and the prices are about the same as WM. Plus rewards points.

Cans of pop - A six-pack of the cheapo stuff at K is $1.49. Not sure on the WM price, but they did have a four-pack of Barqs on special for $1. Yesterday the mail brought me the County Market flyer - a six-pack of Super Chill cans of pop was only $0.88. It's taken me a day to drink it all. This isn't going to happen again, the special I mean. Then again, the pop may not even happen - don't I have water?

Other than that, most every other thing I normally get is cheaper at WM. So it's just a matter of getting things that K can't control the price of. Greeting cards, magazines, packs of baseball cards, small packs of gum, and others. The rewards add up (and rewards is something WM doesn't have), and the distance is shorter.

Another thing I did was change insurance plans. That saved half a monthly payment! Just can't get into any trouble = Extra effort to be careful.