Everywhere you look there are advertisements for the best rates for the highest "death benefits" possible for Term Life Insurance.  They say that "Brad is a smoker and yet we got him $100,000 life insurance for ONLY about a dollar a day". That all sounds very good when you're 35 years old, and you have a family to think about, etc etc.   HOWEVER, did ANYBODY tell you what happens to those term life insurance premium rates as you get older and older and older?  As you reach senior citizen ages, you STILL have term life insurance that you are paying DEARLY for - if you choose to hang on to it.  And, yes, you DO still need some kind of life insurance because upon death, there will be those nagging final expenses - funeral expenses, pay off of any credit card debt and any other expenses that seem to pop up at that time.

Here's what slapped US in the face a few weeks ago!  One of our sons stopped by and happened to ask if we'd thought about doing any kind of funeral arrangements for ourselves in order that OUR wishes would be granted at the time of death and not kids arguing about "not a nice enough casket" or other things that can break a family apart.  After all, we DO have that "term life insurance" that sould be sufficient to cover any expenses.  So he then asked what we were paying for the term life insurance policies, and I said I'd check in a day or two so we'd know for sure.

Here's the "breakdown" of that "about a dollar a day" term insurance and how it is nearly bankruptcying us in our older years to pay for it.  We took out a $50,000 TERM LIFE INSURANCE policy on my husband when he was 49 years old and as they said the premium was "about a dollar a day" --- or $35.00 a month.  We had the premium set up as a bank draft, so there was no way to forget to pay it, or even pay it late.  Here's how those  "term life insurance" premiums have gone up--------

Age 49 - wrote the policy -- $35.00 per month
Age 60 - premium jumped to $69.00 per month
Age 65 - premium jumped to $148.00 per month
in 2 years when my husband will reach age 75, the premium will JUMP to $743.00 per month

Now you tell me -- how many SENIOR CITIZENS, on a fixed income, can afford those kind of premiums?????

We immediately went down to a funeral home and made all the funeral arrangements that WE wanted, paid for it all (did you know that funeral expenses DOUBLE every EIGHT years???), then immediately canceled the bank drafts for both insurance policies (mine and my husbands).  We've taken the insurance premium money, opened a money market account at a federal credit union, and are having THAT money auto drafted from our checking account, and THAT will become our "insurance" policy for those unforseen expenses at the time of our death (our funerals have already been taken care of and paid for). 

It is MY opinion that if some insurance agent would have actually explained how the older you get, that "about a dollar a day" increases to "about $25.00 a day" and even MORE, we certainly SHOULD have been asking about a "whole life" policy with premiums that never go up --- and even better, the longer you have a whole life policy, you even can gain cash value with it!

Oh, and get this ------ if my husband should live to age 80 (and he's in perfectly good health as we speak) - his MONTHLY term life insurance premiums would JUMP to $1,410.42.

That "cheap" term life insurance policy might be great for those years while your kids are in school and takes a bundle of cash to feed, clothe and house them ---- but think about how those rates continue to JUMP and JUMP and JUMP the older you get and you still have nothing except term life insurance ---- nothing that would eventually be a "paid up" policy or even one that gains cash value ------- all the "cash" goes into the pocket of the insurance company. 

I would suggest that you check YOUR insurance policies and if you're getting past the 40 year old age range, check what you can get for a whole life insurance policy and get rid of that term life insurance policy -- the older you get the LESS you'll be able to get for a whole life insurance policy and the MORE you'll be paying for that term life insurance policy!

I've had a few emails lately from people asking what's the difference between "Sarah's Key To Pattern Drafting" book and the specific titles -- "How To Make Dress Patterns" or "How To Make Slacks/Shorts Patterns", etc.

"Sarah's Key To Pattern Drafting"  contains SOME of each of the garment types -- basic slacks/shorts, basic blouses, basic dresses, basic skirts - so that you can have a few of each of the garment types and learn how to make your own patterns for them.  As you probably know, our pattern making materials are set up so you can use YOUR OWN measurements to make the patterns, therefore the patterns are guaranteed to fit your measurements.  It doesn't matter if you are tall, short, heavy, petite --- because you are using YOUR measurements, everything will fit just right.

Each of the "individual" books and classes - "How To Make Slacks/Shorts Patterns ","How To Make Dress Patterns", "How To Make Blouse Patterns"  and"How To Make Skirt Patterns"  is devoted entirely to THAT particular topic, therefore you have a whole pattern making book of those particular garments with a wide variety of styles.  Some women have said "I only wear slacks; you'll never see me in a skirt or dress", so for her, the "How To Make Slacks/Shorts" book is perfect because that's all she wants.  Others may never wear slacks or shorts so really aren't interested in that, but would be interested in the skirts or blouses or dresses

Anyway you look at it, the best alternative to ready made garments that don't fit or the style is nothing you'd want to wear in public, or patterns that need so many adjustments you don't even know where to start would be to check out the pattern making materials.  All of the pattern making materials have diagrams/illustrations on which measurements you need and how to take those measurements, then goes on to show you how to use your own measurements to make those perfectly fitting patterns and garments.

And speaking of pattern making for hard to fit people, be sure to check out our PlusSizeChildren website  and all the patterns and classes that are available for overweight and obese children.  Spring is right around the corner, so now is the time to get some sewing lined up for yourself, your children or grandchildren.

I've just found the BEST piece of information that I've seen lately!  What's even better is that now at the beginning of the year is a good time to consider some of the ways you and your family or business wastes money and make a decision to change things!!

Over at Shopper Strategy, which is basically a coupon and information blog, Denise has done a post entitled "7 Fast Ways to Waste Your Money"  -- and I believe it is something every one of us needs to read and see what we individually can do to cut the waste.

Thank you Denise for this EXCELLENT information!

I realize that some folks in the media, etc would like to make us believe the economy is getting better, however with the prevailing news of more and more people joining the rolls of the unemployed, that's kind of hard to believe.

I truly believe this is going to be the year that many of those unemployed or underemployed will try their hands at a home business.  We've already sold more than triple the amount of our business start up manuals than this time last year.  The "How To Start and Operate a Profitable Clothing Alterations Business"  manual, the "Sewing Machine Repair as a Home Business"  manual and the "Sewing For Full Figure Women as a Home Business"  manual are the number one picks of those wanting to start a home business.

A good friend of mine who has been out of work for over six months decided to try her hand at a clothing alterations business, and she informed me that if she can make just $300 - $400 a month doing the sewing, she can help keep food on the table and perhaps pay the power bill.  How frustrating can it be just worrying about where the next meal will  come from and hoping some money from somewhere comes in before the power company stops by to cut off the power.  Are you or someone you know in this very same boat and have no clue what to do?  Think about a home business that you may be able to start -- even a few dollars would be better than NO dollars!

My husband says I went overboard with my shopping at Walgreens today --- what do you think????



Let me explain -- when stuff that you actually USE all the time is FREE, or they pay you to take it, I believe in stocking up!  The Oscillococcinum for children is EXCELLENT -- it's for kids like Halls ProHealth Defense or EmergenC is for adults -- take a little extra when you know colds/flu are in the area or school, etc.  These were on sale for $8.99/box with a $9.00 register rewards - PLUS I had $2.00 coupons, so I ended up making $2.00 on each one of them.  The SalonPas arthritis patches were on sale for $5.99 with a $6.00 RR and the Omega Factor 3 fish oil capsules, regular price $24.95 were on sale for $10, with a $10 RR.  Bad news is that when I got home with all my loot and opened up one of the Omega Factor 3 boxes, I FOUND a $3.00 coupon!  Dang!  They COULD have paid me $3.00 for each of those boxes.  Looks like I'm gonna have to hit another Walgreens or two tomorrow to use these $3.00 coupons!!

Let me tell you a little story about the Omega 3 - when my daughter was pregnant with the quads, she asked her Dr. about taking extra vitamins - other than the prenatals, of course.  He said the best thing she could take to help the babies' developing brains would be Omega 3 fish oil capsules, however, he told her she really should have been taking them the previous 6 months before getting pregnant so the omega 3 fatty acids would be in her body.  She told him she'd been taking Omega 3's for nearly 2 years, to which he said "wonderful!  keep it up!"

Anybody want to go with me to Walgreens tomorrow since it's obvious my husband won't go with me again.

It is always an interesting time when our grandchildren are at our house!  They all like to do different things, all want whatever someone else has, but are VERY creative in things they come up with to do and make!  Take Zachary, for instance -- he LOVES airplanes, and this last week he got into my "craft stick" box (I buy boxes of 1000 craft sticks cause I know they'll be used!) and decided he needed to make some airplanes.  He very carefully made each airplane different --- you know because some of the airplanes are "shooter" airplanes and other airplanes are for people to ride in.  Here is what he came up with:

Can you tell which are the shooter planes and which are for people to ride in???  I can't either, but I can assure you that Zachary knows!!

Other times, they just want to play outside and get their picture taken - they love to have their picture taken and then look at it on the camera screen --- so....... boys, here's one you can look at on  the computer!

I love you guys!   Oh, by the way - on this day the girls were inside - didn't feel like coming out, even to get a picture taken!

I really NEED the iphone for my fabric applications and to help me get the right amount of fabric, etc etc.

However, NOW I need it for FUN!!  I've just seen the funniest app yet - it is iHogCall  -- and it is a hoot!!  I grew up on a farm - a pig farm, so this hog call app brings back all kinds of memories.  Even now at many state fairs you'll see in their list of activities a "hog calling contest".  Well now you can hear all kinds of hog calls AND there's even a way to submit your own hog call for possible inclusion in the app.  WHOOHOO!  I'm going to practice MY hog calling so IF dear Santa brings me that iphone I've been begging for, I'll be able to submit my best effort.  AND, Santa, if you bring me the iphone I'll even promise to be a good girl NEXT year! 

A few weeks ago I wrote about a super iPhone App, the FabricConverter , which easily figures the amount of fabric you need if you spot something that's not listed on your pattern package.  Now because I don't have an iphone, I had my daughter go with me on a little fabric shopping spree, and I'm here to tell you, with her iphone in hand she saved me a TON of money because the fabric converter app told me instantly how much fabric I needed in the various widths for the projects I wanted to get fabric for.

Now then, the greatest iphone app of all is available --iSewingRoom, which will allow me (or YOU) to take pictures of and record my fabric stash, the patterns I will be using as well as let me record the projects I'm working on and even do up a list of what I need when I head to the fabric store.  But I don't have an iphone, and I certainly can't do all my fabric stash, etc on my daughter's iphone.

I REALLY need an iphone for Christmas!  Please Santa, please, please, please -- I've been good this year! (Oh my, am I sounding like my grandchildren here???).  And, Santa, just remember, this is something I can use every day - not something just to lay around, so if you don't mind, please exchange my lumps of coal for a nice iphone.

As many of you know, my 5 year old quadruplet grandchildren (can't call them grandbabies anymore!) are in Pre-K this year.  Their birthday is in October, so obviously missed the Sept. 1 cut off for kindergarten.  They love school and simply adore their teacher, Mrs. Roland.  The pre-K kids are called Kindermice, and at various times during the year they have an opportunity to wear little "mice" hats with ears and get their faces painted to look like mice.

This year Mrs. Roland decided the kindermice needed to have a float for the annual Christmas parade.  One of the parents let them borrow a trailer that they could decorate.  Several of the mothers pooled ideas and ended up with making little santa hats with "mice" ears for the kids to wear, and made the float into a large mouse.  It was just sooooo cool!  The kids (kindermice) LOVED being on the float, and Mrs. Roland had them practice how they should stand to throw the candy to the bystanders -- NEVER lean "over" the side to throw - you have to stay standing up inside.  I snapped a couple of pictures - one in the parking lot before the parade started, and another as the float went by --- here you go -  the first one has Jacob in front just in case somebody needed him.

 

The second picture had to be taken quickly because Jacob and I were busy picking up necklaces, stuffed animals and candy so we'd be sure to have enough to share with "the kids" since they weren't able to pick anything up.



Isn't this just a neat float!  No wonder it got first place!

Just had my greatest Office Depot shopping trip yesterday - wish I could duplicate trips like this!  Check out what I got......$193.96 in products for $69.54.



ONLY 4 items you say --- and how could that be such a great trip????   Well, if any of you own an HP laser jet printer, you know the toner cartridges are NOT cheap.  As a matter of fact, the black one on top sells for $93.99 and the blue on the bottom costs $83.99.  Each of the 6-pack tape packages costs $7.99.

Here's what I took in with me -- an Office Depot worklife rewards gift card for $94.91, a $20/$100 coupon and a $15/$75 coupon.   SOOOOOO,  I had to check out twice in order to use both of my coupons.  When I put the black toner cartridge ($93.99) with the two tape packages (were on sale 2/$10.00), I went over $100 so could use the $20 coupon.  With tax included, my total was $90.29 - so I handed them my worklife rewards gift card which made this  first order come to a total of $0.00, with $4.62 left on my rewards card.

My SECOND check out order was the blue toner ($83.99), so I was able to give them my $15/$75 coupon, and used the remainder of my rewards card, so the total of this bill, including tax was $69.54.

The next best part is that when you buy toner/ink at Office Depot and use the rewards card number you get 10% back, so I'm accumulating some more money for the next quarter's rewards total.

Well, I'm not nearly as good as the "coupon queen" - my daughter over at ShopperStrategy.com,  but she'll be proud of my savings!