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Did You Know the AARP Magazine Can Save You Money?

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For the longest time, I must sadly admit, I treated my AARP Magazine as junk mail. Because of what I have discovered I want to ask you a simple question – “Did you know that the AARP Magazine can save you money?” I realize, of course, that you may not be old enough to be involved with AARP, but when you reach the age of 49 (the age I joined) I would suggest that you join.

In the September/October 2010 issue there is a great section on 16 ways that AARP saves you money. I would like to list these here just in case you missed this article.

Many of us have been coupon clippers for many years. It surely is a great feeling to check out at the store and find you have saved, in some cases, more than you have spent. And this happened just because you took the time to clip coupons. With the economy the way it is today, you cannot afford not to clip coupons. The AARP Grocery Coupon center offers coupons for more than just groceries. You can check these out at http://grocerycouponcenter.com.
If you are like me, I am always looking for discounts at the national chain stores. These include Target, Sears, Kmart, and many others. The Everyday Savings Center is powered by Next Jump. You can find discounts on things from books, electronics, furniture and much more. For more information on this service check out http://everydaysavingscenter.com/deals.
Nowadays, it is a blessing when we can find tips on low-cost home improvements, including no-cost ways to improve our energy usage. How many times do we find ourselves postponing a home improvement project because it is too expensive? AARP Magazine suggests checking out http://aarp.org/homeupdates.
Often we forfeit going out to eat as it just does not fit in our budget. Denny’s offers a 20 percent savings off your check every day between the hours of 4 PM and 10 PM just by your showing your AARP card. (please note that this offer cannot be used with other promotional offers and this is valid only at participating Denny restaurants). You can also get coffee for yourself and your guests for $1.00. You can call your local Denny’s to check this out at 800-733-6697 or go to their website at http://dennys.com.
I am most definitely going to be checking this “way to save” out myself. I did not participate in driver’s education when I was in high school but now AARP is offering the first and largest driver refresher course in the classroom and online. This will be at a discounted rate for AARP members. I have a spotless driving record but this could save me money. Check out the regulations in your state. Taking this course could very well save you money on your insurance premiums. For further information you can call 888-227-7669 or go to http://aarp.org/drive.
Who does not like to travel? As our purse strings seem to be getting tighter it is more and more difficult to take those vacations we would like to. The AARP Travel Center powered by Expedia can help you with your domestic and international vacation packages, cruises, flights, hotels and rental cars. You can be eligible for discounts from most AARP Travel hotel and car providers, as well as receiving extra onboard credits on select cruises. In addition you will not be charged air or cruise booking fees. Check out 800-675-4318 or http://expedia-aarp.com for more information.
And while you are on your way to the airport, perhaps you will need airport parking. You can save 10 percent at more than 130 off-site discount airport parking facilities operated by Park Ride Fly USA nationwide. They offer complimentary services that include curb-to-curb shuttle service to and from the airport, valet and/or self-parking and luggage assistance (this is an enormous help for sure). Call 877-503-7275 or log onto http://parkrideflyusa.com/aarp for more information.
I do not know about you, but car and home insurance payments can take a big chunk out of your budget. If you insure your home and auto with the AARP Auto and Homeowners Insurance Program you can receive up to a ten percent discount on your homeowners-insurance rates and an additional fifteen percent on your auto insurance. Go to http://aarp.the.hartford.com/msb, or call 800-689-9089, code 440160 for specific information.
If you are looking for ways to save on your cell phone plan, you can receive a free phone from Consumer Cellular when you sign up for a new service. With this program you will receive 5 percent off your monthly service and 30 percent off selected accessories. You will not have to sign up for a long term contract. Call 888-437-9226 or go to http://consumercellular.com/aarp.
Who is not trying to become more physically fit? Visit AARP’s online fitness center for exercise news and motivational tips. You can join an online group, Fat2Fit, and be part of a group that has helped almost 4,000 people lose weight over the past year. If you would like more information on this program check out http://aarp.org/fit.
Most people at this age are looking for ways to save money on eyewear. AARP has a program that can help you save on bifocals, trifocals, lens options and frames. You can realize these savings at LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical, JC Penney Optical and also at many private practitioners. These savings are offered through EyeMed Vision Care and for more information you can go to http://aarphealthcare.com or call 888-352-3924. These savings cannot be combined without other discounts.
Health insurance is very expense and there are many people who cannot afford a health plan. This means that screening tests are not being performed. You can receive six free health tests for such things as bone density and cholesterol, through the AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour. This program is visiting cities nationwide and in Puerto Rico through February 2011. Call 866-484-8687 or go http://aarpwalghreens.com/tour. By logging onto the website you can see where the tour will be going.
Medications are another expense that many people are having difficulty affording. Check out AARP’s Doughnut Hole Calculator to find less expensive generic drugs. Those who have fallen to Medicare Part D’s “Doughnuthole” will receive a $250.00 rebate check from Medicare automatically this year. Check out http://aarp.org/doughnuthole for further information.
(Also remember that if you are having difficulty affording your medications you can contact your drug’s manufacturer and check on their assistance program. Many pharmaceutical companies, depending on your income, will supply your medications free of charge. You will have to request the required forms and get your doctor’s approval and prescription request. This was not in the AARP Magazine, but I speak from previous experience!)
Just because we have retired it does not mean that we still do not want to be active in the work force. We still have a lot of value to offer to the corporate world. If you are seeking no-cost job-search assistance or career counseling so you can maintain a marketable profile, AARP offers free advice and resources including career fairs and access to employers that are seeking workers 50 and older. If you require this type of service, check out http://aarp.org/work.
If you have retired AARP offers free webinars with tips on how to better stretch your money and helps you with information on ways you can make ends meet. If you have not retired but are thinking about it, AARP can help you figure out how much you should be saving for retirement. Go to http://aarp.org/moneywebinars.
Last, but definitely not least, AARP is always looking out for your interests in the halls of Congress and in all 50 statehouses.

AARP has fought to provide $250 in relief to Social Security recipients whose benefits were frozen this year.

AARP strives to protect and strengthen Social Security not only for you, but for generations to come.

Did you know that AARP saves consumers billions of dollars in home-energy costs by defending us against unfair rate hikes utility companies?

This is only a very small portion of the plethora of information that is included in the AARP Magazine. There is so much value in this magazine, including health, money, motivational articles, etc. this was just the tip of the iceberg. This is by no means “junk mail”, and do not throw it away before reading it from cover to cover.

I hope that this information is helpful to you. Please share this information with others so they will know that the AARP Magazine can save them money and how the AARP Organization is working to help us. This is so very important, especially during the economical conditions of our country.

Happy Savings!

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://homebusinessinatlanta.com
http://fullservicemarketingtools.com
Skype ID: judy.conway

In compliance with the FTC Compensation Disclosure Guidelines I am required to inform you if you click on my links and join a program or purchase a product I may make a commission. I hope you have found useful information on this site and will stop back again soon.

How to Turn Your Love of Cooking Into a Home Based Catering Business

Author: Judy Conway

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: Image by jmv via Flickr

Have you ever dreamed of having a home based catering business? If you have a love of cooking this would be a great career.

In many homes nowadays both parents are working. Economic pressures require a double income. Schedules are hectic and it is very difficult to prepare wholesome, nutritious meals.

A catering business can be very lucrative in providing daily meals for these families (singles or couples). You would not only be preparing delicious meals but eliminating the stress that these people feel when they under the pressure of shopping and cooking. They would have more time to enjoy each other and do the things they enjoy most.

Before you jump into your apron, here are some things you want to consider:

What will be the name of your business?

Are you doing this by yourself or will you have a partner? If you have a partner will you both be responsible for the cooking, or will one take care of the administrative duties? In the future you may find the need to hire a cook. Dependability is a required.

Create a business plan that you can use if you need to get financing.

Check with your local food administration authorities about the laws governing your type of business. Find out the appropriate licenses and permits you will need. Check into these details first so you will not have problems in the future.

Decide on what types of meals you are going to provide. You will want to include two or three choices daily. Once you establish your clientele you can give them an order form of the various meals available on certain days. You can establish the time frame you want to maintain. A week or two ahead have the forms returned to you. You can come up with a computerized form that you can email your clients and they can email you their choices. Do whatever you can to automate your business and eliminate unnecessary legwork. You will have to decide what works best for you. You will want a week’s notice for shopping and preparation purposes.

If you want to specialize utilizing your specific cooking/baking talents, your catering service could be for special soups, desserts or birthday cakes. This is your choice.

Pricing your meals will be more of a challenge. You will want to keep your costs as low as possible in order to have a desirable profit. Call other catering businesses to get an idea of what your completion is charging. You do not want to price your meals so high that you will price yourself out of the market. Allow for a fluctuation margin in market prices.

You will want to buy in bulk. Get a membership at your local wholesale club. This will save you quite a bit. You still want to be a savvy shopper as there are times when your local supermarket’s prices are lower than the wholesale club.

Bulk shopping will necessitate your knowledge of the shelf life of the foods you are storing. When in doubt of how to, and how long to store food items, the internet holds a wealth of information at your fingertips.

How are you going to advertise your business? Of course, word of mouth continues to be one of the best forms of advertisement. You should consider flyers, or posters that you can leave at various businesses in your area. You will be able to create and print these on your computer. This will cut printing costs. Newspapers and mail coupon services can get the word out to many, but will be more costly.

You may want to consider designing a web page so that you can create an internet presence. Print up business cards including your web address. Get permission to leave this in places such as the doctor’s office, dentist, or hairdresser. Design your website so you have your weekly choices listed and your contact information.

If you go this route, you will want to find a web hosting company that also provides you internet marketing tools. I know of one company that has a bulk emailing program, with an auto responder where you can set up various campaigns. It also provides a video producer with templates that you can create for your specific business. The best part of this company is that they have training by professionals in the industry. If you are a cook, more than likely, you are not overly versed in computers!!

How are you going to get the meals to your customers? They can pick them up from your home or you could deliver to their place for a set fee. You will need to put great thought into planning your cooking and delivery schedule. As a suggestion, allow yourself about one hour to an hour and a half.

What type of containers are you going to use to pack your meals? As there is a possibility that the food may need to be reheated, you will have to take this into consideration when purchasing containers. Look into microwavable items. A wholesale club usually has great prices on food containers.

Be a good planner. The internet will provide you with an endless supply of recipes and ideas for different meals. If you are cooking for a family with children, take this into consideration. Spicy does not always work with little ones!

When you purchase your fresh produce make sure it is cleaned properly and when possible cut and ready for use.

Keep a cautious eye on your costs.

You want to develop a good relationship with your clients. When possible, satisfy special requests. Always be the type of person that you would want to work with.

As suppliers are an important element in your business you want to develop a good relationship in this area. This will go a long way in getting better service.

It is up to you to decide on how large of a business you want to create. A small business will be easier to handle. Once it grows it will necessitate hiring additional staff members. But then again this would translate into greater revenue.

As an added suggestion, be sure to keep your recipes either on the computer or in a binder in protective sheets. Who know, someday you can add to your business profits by publishing a cookbook of your catering recipes.

I hope that your love of cooking will be the first step to initiating a profitable home based catering business. I wish you all the best and a kitchen filled with aromas of happiness and success!

Happy Cooking,

Judy Conway

Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com

http://homebusinessinatlanta.com

http://fullservicemarketingtools.com

Skype ID: judy.conway

A Restaurant Worthy of Commendation!

Author: Judy Conway

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In celebration of my daughter’s 40^th birthdday yesterday we went out to dinner at a new (to us) restaurant. It is called, Sugo Restaurant & Tapas and is located at 625 West Crossville Road in Roswell, Georgia. This was such a remarkable experience I decided it is a restaurant worthy of commendation!

Sugo’s is located in a large shopping center with lots of parking. It has an inviting outdoor, patio-style, eating area. As the temperature was in the 30’s this was not an option! Upon entering the restaurant you feel like you have been transported to an establishment in Italy. The décor is tasteful and inviting. The dining areas are spacious and you do not feel like you are part of your neighbor’s conversations. The wonderful aromas awakened our appetites.

We were promptly seated and our noteworthy service commenced from that point on. I want to commend Kevin for absolutely impeccable service. He told us all about the evening’s specials, which was quite an extensive list without anything written down to prompt him. Having waited a table or two in my lifetime, I am always impressed by waiters/waitresses that do their job well. After we had looked over the extensive menu Kevin took our order. (again not writing anything down) There were five of us and we wanted to try various tapas in lieu of regular dinners. That proved to be a good decision. The children had sodas and we three adults enjoyed a bottle of Farnese, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Sugo’s offers a good selection of wine that will please your fancy.

Just to give you an idea of the tapas available, we ordered the following:

Gnocchi – Traditional potato dumplings with porcini mushroom cognac sauce. (These were a big hit with the children) …and enjoyed by all.

Baked Stuffed Calamari – stuffed with sautéed onions, spinach and artisan cheeses. This is served atop tomato basil sauce. Delicious!

Chicken Vin Cotto – roasted dark meat chicken with marsala wine sauce, wild mushrooms, and dressed with vin cotto. Awsome!

Crunchy Potatoes – roasted crisp and fired twice then tossed with aged pecorino and servered with paprika garlic aioli. Great compliment to all of the above!

Euro-Quattro Formaggi Antipasto – vine ripe tomatoes with fresh mozzarella, barrel aged Mt. Viko’s feta and specialty artisan cheeses of the day. Served with mixed field greens, assorted and seasonal condiments. Finished with an aged fig balsamic vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil. One of the best antipasto salads I have ever had!

Desserts were made in heaven … We also ordered an assortment here and shared!

Cannoli – Italian crème and chocolate chips

Chocolate Mouse Cake – a fabulous creation of triple layered chocolate fudge cake, chocolate mouse and chocolate frosting. If you love chocolate you will definitely want to try this one. Yummy!

Tiramisu – Expresso soaked ladyfingers with Mascarpone cheese and Zabaglione cream and then dusted with rich cocoa powered. Fabulous! Kevin was thoughtful and this arrived with a birthday candle glowing in it for my daughter.

Coffee, of course was superb!

You could also order various types of Pizzas, salads, and many Sugo Family Specialties. Just reading the menu is a delight in itself. Some of the items listed were:

Roman Chicken Cacciatore – all dark meat chicken on the bone, slow cooked for 5 hours. Served with porcini mushroom ravioli, fresh tomato basil sauce, grilled Italian peppers and Sugo’s signature sausage.

Aunt Lena’s Chicken – breast of chicken dressed with Prosciutto di Parma, walnut pesto, and fresh mozzarella. Served atop strozapretti pasta in a pink crème sherry sauce with artichokes and organic spinach.

Bistecca Di Joseph – All-natural 12 oz. Montana Ranch Piedmontese Boneless Ribeye char-grilled then topped with a porcini mushroom cognac sauce. Accompanied with mushroom raviolis and roasted red pepper.

Frederico’s Pork Braciole – Center cut of pork tenderloin stuffed with walnut pest, sausage, pecorino romano cheese and carmelized onion. Then rolled and dressed with carmaelized dates, and Mozzarella cheese. Sliced and placed atop a bed of wild mushrooms, roasted tomatoes, and crispy long stem aritchokes.

Sugo’s Hide Tide – Pesto encrusted 8 oz. filet of salmon and sautéed Mediterranean mussels served atop artisan pasta tossed with a fresh tomato puttanesca sauce, organic spinach and shitake mushrooms. Finished with roasted garlic and sweet vermouth.

Sugo’s also has a “Piccolo Bambinos” menu for your children.

In addition Sugo’s has specialty menus for vegetarians and people on gluten free diets. I personally am on Step One of the Metabolism Miracle diet program, and had no problem finding items to satisfy my appetite. Unfortunately, I did have to forego the desserts, but everyone assured me they were all delicious. When I reach my weight goal, this is where I am going to celebrate!

The menu held a tantilizing list of items that will necessitate our visiting Sugo’s many more times. And then we will have to revist to be sure we really liked everything. Yes, the food, service, prices and overall ambiance is an experience to remember and enjoyed over and over again.

Sugo’s received the OpenTable.com, Diners’ Award for 2009, as well as other awards you will find listed on their web page.

I hope this information has whet your appetite (literally) and you will put visiting Sugo’s on your “Bucket” list. You will not regret it. You can also find more information about Sugo’s on their website at http://www.SugoRestaurant.com. Their web site will also speak volumes of the type of service and quality you will find when visiting Sugo’s.

Blessings,

Judy Conway
Email: judyconwaymarketing@gmail.com
http://joinjudyconway.com/bestdealsonline
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Category: Children, Helpful Hints, Restaurants, Uncategorized | 4 Comments